I was
there in the mid ninties during the crash of the ruble. Back then you
could trade anything western ( t-shirt, Levi's, coins , etc ) on the street for US dollars.
When I travel I always visit the message board over at Lonely Planet. It's called
Thorntree.
Unfortunely it is under going maintenance until further notice.
I'm very envious. That part of the globe is incredible. It reminds me alot of the great plains of the West in the States. Rolling hills that go on
forever. I took the Trans-Siberian from Moscow, we skirted the lake then headed to Mongolia and eventually Beijing.
If it's is possible. Hook up with travelers in Europe. THere will far more travelers there going through Russia rather trying to find travelers here
in North America.
Good luck.