I work in Russia and NDBs are still prevalent.

In real life they probably don't. But when testing a candidate for an instrument rating in the simulator and if he requires to renew his endorsement on the ADF or VOR, then he must demonstrate competency on each of those navigation aids. Using an over-lay and VNAV/LNAV is not a valid test of his flying skill at conducting those non-precision approaches.
Frequently it is noticed that the candidate has significant difficulty in tracking in crosswinds when flying these approaches as sole navaids especially raw data. Which is precisely the purpose of checking them on the basic navaid rather than allowing the autopilot/FD to fly the overlay which is by no means proof of the pilot's flying ability.

Not over here. Was never checked to fly any VOR/NDB approach according to raw data since i started to fly on a jet. Always just LNAV/VNAV and then lateron IAN, both with and without flight director of course.

Except for training purposes, in more than 30 years I flew only two real life NDB approaches (at BIRK & LSGC), both in the early 1990s while the ILS or VOR were out for maintenance.

Flew an NDB to EDDK not too long ago because the ILS was out and the operator at the time was not certified for GPS approaches... There are applications for it.

Did I get that one wrong or are you actually meaning they won't fly any kind of circling approaches as in the visual basic manoeuvre?

Plenty of airlines have ditched circling approaches and NDB are history with the introduction of PBN. Saves money on ground and aircraft equipment. Simplifies procedures, and offers better nav accuracy. The disappointing thing is the length of time it's taking to get everyone on board.

In CX visual approaches are ok but circling cannot!! :ok:

Everywhere we go there are either straight in conventional approaches or RNAV approaches anyway......