Russia in the 90's was a mess. Russia in 2024 is a different...

Russia in the 90's was a mess. Russia in 2024 is a different country. Putin's 80% approval rating at home looks reasonably secure to me. Food shortages during the transition from communism to Russia's form of democracy/capitalism were caused by failure in distribution systems. Sure with the exodus of military aged men has caused some problems and Russia is now considering some form of guest worker program, as they expand various industries ,similar to what Germany ran.
You speak about 1998. That was a year before Putin took over as prime minister, then President from 2000. Longest serving Russian leader since Stalin. I think you have to agree his record is impressive, over 25 years.
After Brexit the UK had distribution problems in the food industry after they deported all the Polish truck drivers. It can happen when politicians make mistakes.