http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia#Ancient_Russia

It seems Russia has spent most of it's history being civilised by european and middle eastern civilisations, only to be tormented by various steppe hoardes. Obviously due to their superior warfare skills on plains. They must have survived by guarding forested and hilly regions of Russia. Possibly camping there until their plains dominant enemies faced logistical problems and had to go elsewhere to feed their cattle. They would have had superior infantry, so in any area unsuitable for cavalry they would be king. I'm sure they would have also used their own horse archers when trying to drive their enemies from the wide open plains in open battle, which explains the boyars. Possibly with an elite anti-cavalry infantry line for support, which explains the jedi (for the dark ages) russian spearmen.