I myself from Moscow but saw my share of province. Most places are very sad. They really rot. They don't stuck in the past because past for them was much better in many senses. It is why people have nostalgia over USSR. Most of that places in USSR times was not prosperious but had some industry or collective farms (kolkhoz).
I think it may be very interesting for you to visit some different areas like Kamchatka with its volcanoes or Kaliningrad (most western province and enclave)