They were cut off from the gas exactly after the moment when they have refused to pay for gas.
Good idea ! No discussion ? That's diplomacy ?? When cutting off oil and gas, you made lives in danger, did you think about it ? Did you want some deaths on your mind to realize that was a wrong idea ??...
I don't think you are guilty, but your government is.
Do you evere been in Russia? If no, why you asseverate this fullish facts? Yes, may be people which live outside the big cities are less rich then mosovites or inhabitants of SPb., but offcourse they do not starve.
Maybe not starving, but with no tables full of food...go further in the East of your country, there are people living from hunting and fishing...i don't think your gov think about them as much as they think about using oil and gas for "diplomacy"...plenty of money for them, much less for the others -> Great Russia ;)