Why so many elderly people in Russia (Russian, Jews and others) were starving? Because of the reform minded/free market oligarchs like Khodorkovsky who looted the country. Now thanks to Putin the old retired people can eat a little better.
I don't think they are eating much better. I've seen some of the documentaries on them and it's eat or heat in many cases and medicines for the sick take precedence over food. They also have a program that helps Jewish families once they go to Israel. Some of them live in horrendous circumstances. M