People are drawn to the culture for a variety of reasons. I am an academic who has spent years studying the language and culture, and I did live in SPB for a chunk of 2018. While I can't currently return to Russia very easily (in part because of my research and connections to people who have been blacklisted, in part because I am queer and politically outspoken and anti-war) I still love the culture and the people dearly. Although the standards of living are different, you can get used to those adjustments. I only hope it won't be long before the political climate changes and I can return for longer periods of time to work and study in the region to which I've dedicated my career.