I have flown around the former USSR quite extensively on such types as AN-24's, Yak42's, Tu-134's etc. and maintenance does leave a lot to be desired.
There are IL-76's parked-up at airports all around the former USSR just waiting for "tin-pot" operators to sign them up and get them airborne, as an example just 'Google Earth' on Zaporozhye Airport to establish the airframes parked-up, at just one airport, available to, with a kick of the tyres etc, get airborne, unfortunately economical hardships dictate what is safe and what is not!