Russia's economy has been stagnant for the last 30 years, and China's economy has grown over 600% in that time. And Russia's successful university system ran out of funds about 30 years ago, same for thier hospital system. Today China has a higher percentage of toilets! Russian energy sales were doing well. Where did all the money go?
Clearly not to the military?
“Where did all the money go?”
Look at the list of oligarch assets that have been seized by sanction orders. That’s where it went.
Superyachts, Italian villas, Florida mansions, UK football teams, shopping malls, fancy cars, private jets, etc.