Did russin citizens' passion for reading subside or get replaced with interest in "lowbrow" "trash" culture after the collapse of the soviet union?

Unable to keep up with Western technological advances and maintain a level of quality for the population, the USSR was slowly declining.

Likewise, the republics that formed the Soviet Union demanded more self-determination and political freedoms.

The Russian Federation assumed the international obligations of the USSR and the foreign debts of the countries.

Russia withdrew assets from the USSR that remained in foreign countries, including facilities such as embassies and consulates.

The command of the military forces, the control of nuclear weapons and the management of space exploration research came under the administration of Russia.

Nuclear weapons belonging to Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan were destroyed because these nations gave up this type of military equipment.

The need for new trade routes to the East, the desire to spread Christianity, and competition among European countries prompted the start of European exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.

In the 15th and 16th Century, Navigation and Exploration were at their peak, and European Countries were assembling more and more colonies to their Empires.

As stated above, Competition among European Countries was a huge factor. Every country wanted to have an edge over other countries, explore private trading routes, provide their countries with slaves acquired in the colonies, as well as exploring the natural resources of such colonies.