Now the money has stopped, women complain they must and find jobs

Glamorous, high-maintenance Russian mistresses are being dumped by their married lovers hit by the economic crisis because they are no longer able to financially support them

Kept women, known as 'soderzhanki' who advertise on sugar daddy websites in Moscow, are waving goodbye to their life of luxury as their philandering sponsors’ money runs out.

The secret mistresses are being forced to work and losing out on their gilded lifestyle of clandestine trysts in five-star luxury hotels.

Mistress: Russia's kept women - known as 'soderzhanki' - are losing their main source of income as their rich sugar daddies are hit by the economic crisis. Pictured, former hairdresser Maria Kapshukova is one of the women losing out on her income

Pout: The women are losing their five-star lives and instead are finding themselves being forced into work. Thousands of wannabe mistresses post images of themselves on websites advertising their services

Strike a pose: Maria (pictured), from Ukraine, also runs a video blog for women hoping to find a rich man to look after them. But the women are finding that their line of work is rapidly disappearing

Soderzhanka Marina told MailOnline how she relied on money from her plastics' tycoon lover to raise her two children from her previous marriage.

Marina, 35, said: 'I consider myself to be a valuable part of my man's portfolio, as I provide him with high-quality relations, including sex, and never cause him trouble.

I consider myself to be a valuable part of my man's portfolio as I provide him with high-quality relations, including sex, and never cause him trouble. Soderzhanka Marina, 35, mistress

'I am pretty and he is proud to show me off to his friends during skiing holidays.

'I speak English and Italian, and in my dictionary there are no words like "bad mood" or "marry me". But my sponsor cannot afford to keep me any more - and now I need money.'

Marina, who wouldn't be photographed, explained her monthly allowance of 220,000 roubles (£2,000) was 'modest' by Moscow standards, where her soderzhanki friends could earn three times more in cash and presents.

Yet it was still six times the salary she could earn by going back to her job at a nursery school now.

Marina is one of thousands of would-be mistresses to openly post provocative images on websites to lure in future sponsors.

Some pose in thigh-high leather boots and underwear, while others advertising themselves to successful businessmen opt for a more sophisticated look.

Some are amazingly direct about what they seek from such an arrangement, which has flourished in Russia despite the renaissance of the Orthodox Church with its strict beliefs on the sanctity of marriage since the fall of communism.

Beauty: Karina 20, a brunette from Moscow, says she is 'sexy, without bad habits, and is looking for her king. Thousands of women are posting provocative images on websites to lure in sponsors as competition hots up

Expectations: Karina wants a sponsor interested in 'long term relations' and says she expects to travel. A Moscow-based psychologist and sexologist said the last time business was so bad for the women was during the 2009 economic crisis

The soderzhanki phenomenon is similar to the sugar daddy trend seen recently in the West, but perhaps carries more obligations on the man to provide an apartment and travel.

Inna Roizman, a Moscow-based psychologist and sexologist, said those hoping to become soderzhanki face tough competition because the oil price crash and sanctions on Vladimir Putin had caused the Rouble to drop and had a knock on effect on the country's businessmen.

Dwindling funds have forced two-timing businessmen to choose between their wives and their secret lovers, and they are overwhelmingly opting for their spouses, it is claimed.

'I had six women coming to see me last week saying their men left them and stopped paying them allowances,' Ms Roizman said.

She said the last time she saw so many clients who had been dumped by their lovers was during the 2009 economic crisis when soderzhanki were dumped in their droves.

'I have clients calling me from France, Germany, Britain and Sweden,' she said. 'Many of them feel the impact of the global financial slowdown - but it seems only Russia that has this soderzhanki social phenomenon.

'I think this is a very Russian characteristic in the new crisis, to see these women re-surfacing in search for new sources of income.

'I am sure that there are no all-Russia statistics for how many women lost this kind of "employment" since the beginning of the crisis, because dumped women are not seen as economic indicators.'

Phenomenon: As the Rouble dwindles, businessmen are being forced to choose between their wives and their mistresses - and the wives are coming out on top. Pictured, Maria, 19, from Novosibirsk, who makes it clear she is not ready for a man who wants to make her his second or third lover

Advert: Tatiana describes herself as 'beautiful' and says she is interested in sports and 'looks after herself'

Interests: Another woman, calling herself Lady Vi, from Moscow, wants a 'long term' sponsor and says she is 'interested in oral and classical sex'

Advertisements on websites offering relationships out of wedlock seldom state the monthly allowance sought by the woman, yet it is implied that this is part of the deal.

In one 20-year-old 'Alyona', from Novosibirsk, in Siberia, bluntly states: 'I'm into dancing, gym, love active leisure, very sociable, good fun - looking for a sponsor.'

The 5ft 4in brunette reveals she weighs 8st 7lbs, and has big breasts and blue eyes.

I think this is a very Russian characteristic in the new crisis, to see these women re-surfacing in search for new sources of income. Inna Roizman, Moscow-based psychologist and sexologist

Another calling herself Lady Vi, from Moscow, wants a 'long term' sponsor and says she has brown hair, hazel eyes and is 'interested in oral and classical sex'.

Oksana, 23, also from Moscow, says she has a sense of humour, is a keen sportswoman and a 'good girl'.

She promises her would-be sponsor she is 'easy going' and 'won't be f****** your brain'. She stresses she is 'not high-maintenance'.

Karina, 20, a brunette from Moscow, is looking for 'her king' and describes herself as 'a girl with Asian beauty' who is 'sexy' and has 'no bad habits'.

She wants a long-term sponsor and expects to travel with him.

Natalia, 25, from the town of Naro-Fominsk, describes herself as blonde, blue-eyed and slim. Her sponsor must be 'a serious man for regular meetings', not just a one-night stand.

'I have a three-year-old child,' she wrote. 'I'm raising him on my own, so am sorry but I won't be able to travel.

'Currently I need support and I am ready to help you with what I can. I'm an ordinary, kind girl, enjoying new encounters and being social.'

Measurements: Alyona reveals she is 5ft 4" tall, weighs 54 kg, and is a big-busted brunette with blue eyes

Provocative: Alyona, 20, from Novosibirsk, in Siberia, states bluntly: 'I'm into dancing, gym, love active leisure, very sociable, good fun - looking for a sponsor'

Website: Thousands of would-be mistresses post images on websites like this to lure in sponsors, but they are facing increasingly tough competition as the economic crisis takes its toll on their businessman market

Maria, 19, from Novosibirsk, is an 'unparalleled, athletic, gracious, neat, humane, lively, sensible girl... looking for a mature companion who can make all of my dreams come true'.

She makes it clear she is 'not ready' for a man who wants to make her 'his second or third lover'.

Her potential sponsor should be aware that she 'loves travelling around the world - and this requires significant expenses'.

She is prepared to move from Siberia to Moscow or St Petersburg if she finds the right sponsor.

Another, Lana Smirnova said she has left her job and regularly goes to yoga and Italian classes, which her sponsor will be expected to pay for.

And she revealed some of the more unusual things she's been asked to do in the bedroom, perhaps as a warning to men with similar tastes not to contact her.

'There are real perverts sometimes,' she wrote. 'They ask you to do things, no normal man would ask for.

'For example, one insisted on being kicked in his groin area, not simply with a bare foot but with high heels.'

Some men take a soderzhanki because his wife 'cannot fulfil her matrimonial obligations, say, for medical reasons', Lana said.

The wife, 'if she is wise, will encourage her husband to find someone', she added.

One Russian news outlet highlighted the difference between a soderzhanki's expectations in 2014, before the economic crisis, and now.

Homely: Oksana says she has a sense of humour and likes sports. She describes herself as a 'good girl'

'Easy going': Oksana said she 'won't be f***ing your brain' and stresses she is 'not high maintenance'

Then they travelled to the Maldives, had a car and apartment bought for them and could expect a monthly allowance of at least £1,400.

Now, they might get a holiday to Turkey, could have their taxi fares paid for and are provided with a tiny rented one-bedroom apartment. Their monthly allowance has also fallen to around £400.

Perhaps more interesting is that in 2014, men sought the most beautiful women, while those facing financial troubles now are looking for 'communication and care'.

Newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets said the economic downturn has caused men to retreat to traditional family values.

'Men who flattered themselves by providing for their lovers - from gorgeous socialites to affordable migrants - are now trying to keep their main family at a decent level,' one article read.

'Family psychologists forecast the drop in oil prices causes a total return of men to their families.'

Former hairdresser Maria Kapshukova from Ukraine runs a video blog for provincial Cinderellas dreaming of improving their lives by taking a sponsor.

She urges them not to fall in love with their male provider and 'always be gorgeous, for example spend money on yourself even if you don't have any'.

Kept: Maria, 19, warns her potential sponsor she loves travelling the world - and that this requires 'significant expenses'. However, she is prepared to move from Siberia to Moscow or St Petersburg for the right man

Sylish: Lady Vi wants a long term sponsor. She is one of many women hoping to earn an income as a mistress

'And because no man will voluntarily give a girl anything, it is necessary to know how to unwind them,' she said.

Clever soderzhanki should enroll in business or financial classes to demonstrate that they understand what their sponsors do for work, she said.

'Keep magazines with stock quotes and books on economics open in your bedroom,' she urged.

A guide giving tips to men interested in taking a mistress stresses the loveless and soulless nature of these arrangements and urges them to drive a hard bargain in the new climate.

'The easiest way to analyse the market is placing an advert with your payment and living conditions stated,' it reads. 'The replies you get will put everything in its place.

'If your demand is not fulfilled, gradually increase the payment or living conditions. And the results will not disappoint you.'

Men are further urged: 'Try to be as cynical as possible when assessing candidates.

'Remember, the foundation of these relationships is your needs and readiness for a long-term arrangement based on money.

'It's not an affair or love. Ideally, you need a contract.

'Don't rent or register the apartment in the name of the woman.

Stunner: Elina, 33, from Moscow, is one of just thousands of women who advertises for sponsors online

Jet-setter: Elina, 33, from Moscow, wants a sponsor who is ready for 'travelling together', implying that she might accompany him discreetly on business trips

'Fear of being kicked out of the apartment for not fulfilling contract obligations will discipline even the most carefree ladies.

'Installing a video buzzer which will register the video on a hard disk should avoid the temptation of your soderzhanki to use your rented apartment for side encounters.'

As for Marina, who lives near a big tank factory, her hunt for a new sponsor is not going well.

'My former sponsor ran his own plastics company,' she said. 'He is an entrepreneur, a self-made man who suffered a hit because of the crisis.

'I must find an equivalent replacement because I need to support my children, and so far it proves to be hard.'