Based on what are you seeing a "slow collapse of the Russian state"?
Discussion
Just like under Gorbachev in the 90s,And then again in 96 under Yeltzin. The last throes of Putins regime. They will try again next market cycle.
So based on nothing of substance then? I guess the msm propaganda is not at all useless, although you can find some peculiar insights again from said media, via CNN from June:
"... Bilateral trade between Russia and China totaled more than $93.8 billion from January to May in 2023, a 40.7% increase compared to the same period last year, data from China’s General Administration of Customs showed.
The data published on Wednesday also showed that China’s exports to Russia have reached $42.96 billion since January 2023, a 75.6% increase compared to 2022."
Their exports to EU via more middle men than ever is basically making more countries richer at the expense of Europe. Sanctions and price caps are openly mocked and breached. They control more fertile land than before, more shoreline and waterways, oh and they have been drafting hundreds of thousand new troops. Some serious collapse going on in Russia, I gotta say.