The latest patch seems to have improved the Ruskies line infantry a bit, making the 'Russian Rush' approach more plausible. Get into melee ASAP and you can rule pretty much any European line or light infantry. Grenadiers and guard/elite units are a bit more trouble, of course, but you should do alright.

The Russian guards from the Elite Units of the West pack are real bruisers too. I didn't compare their stats with the British elites, but they thrashed a regular British guard unit nicely, plus their uniforms are pretty snazzy :P