What difference does a passport make? SO time yes that's problematic but if a Russian can easily go to Dubai for a job right now I don't think there are many bad passports that can't make it.
Cant go without a visa sponser if you can't get a job because your logbook is filled with p2x 🥸. Point is "there are loads of other jobs" is just not true. Home legacy carriers (QF, BA, UA, etc) require the respective passport. EK requires 2000hrs P2 (NOT P2X). E3 needs aus pass. SQ and AJ haven't hired yet. For 7 year SOs it's usually this or the streets.