How to play Russia is not as simple as:
Do this buy, attacks and moves on R1, do this buy, attacks and moves on R2, etc.
You have to play with a team goal as the allies.
Are you playing KGF? Might you look to pressure Japan instead? Will you be balanced?
On top of those questions, you need to look at how the battles have gone. If Russia rolls poorly on R1, you need to hope for some help from your allies or they might just be overrun by Germany.
Many times, it comes down to personal preference. For example, most Allied players will agree that a KGF mentality (especially early game) is the optimal strategy. This usually employs Russia tying up German units in an effort to bleed Germany dry whilest UK and US mount forces to pressure the western front as early and strong as possible. In this case, a more agressive Russia is preferred, with combat moves and purchases bent on this thinking.
This is not to say that a KGF can not be done with a passive approach of 8 inf purchases. Again, the comfort level of risks in battles determines a players approach. Unlike the Axis, Russia CAN be agressive but does not HAVE to be agressive if they don’t want to be.
What you’ll see here are arguments that back player preferences. When you get the expected dice rolls, everything is good. A more conservative Russia adds some cushion to that dice tolerance. Also, as the allies, conservative play is usually the order of the day: it is alot easier to defend in this game than attack.
If you are having trouble getting smashed when playing Russia, I would suggest a conservative, inf based mode of thinking. When Germany starts to close in, pump up the art to ward them off. The tricky part comes into play when the Japanese start to join the party 
