By 2 years ago you mean 2022? The problem is due to the COVID recovery, oil prices went up. Add the sanctions and it went up even more. Add in sales of their oil on Black Markets, their income hasn't gone down that much
They could have face collapse due to currency failing. But they essentially decoupled their currency from the world market
Of course they aren't out of the woods as they are facing quite serious inflation and other issues
@SSSChair I mean the memes rolling around about dating "hags" are for 30+, but I dunno how much that reflects reality. Romance is in a funky place, with loud voices in either direction on multiple axes.
I'm answering this at work so it's not going to be comprehensive, but Mortgages, and it's derivatives, were seen as an alternative store of wealth like gold, and so Funds in general demanded it a lot. Demand led to approval of subprime loans, leading to defaults and the Great Recession. Again, massively oversimplified.
Late to reading this chapter, but as to your concern, "mid-20s OL" is PERFECT if you are thinking of something serious, absolutely not hag. In fact, in my region (Canada), mid-20s folks are usually too young because all the ladies are freaking childish. Then again, in my region, the men in that age group are also very immature. The sad part is that in my culture (Korean), young people nowadays think it's optimal to marry and have kids in their 30s, not realizing that female fertility especially takes a nosedive in the 30s...