-- Russia is a "divorce culture". That is, there is a whole population of women who consider marriage and subsequent divorce as an instrument for "getting ahead in life".
Interesting that my current girlfriend (russian living in UK) said the same thing. She said that historically there are so many things that were much easier (or even only possible) when you were married - such as getting an apartment or even being able to buy clothes (under the old voucher type system), that marriage became a transient thing of convince. And that's the way many russians still think of it.
Hmmm... perhaps that is why they always seem to have a backup lover or two tucked away somewhere. I have witnessed this many times in the Ukrainian women I know... they seem to accept the simple fact that Ukraine men will cheat on then so they also cheat on the men. I just don't uinderstand the reasoning but perhaps it is a way to better their existance as you have explained.