Very interesting TR. Thanks for posting and the images.
My only experience with Aeroflot and thirsty noisy under powered Russian aircraft is a very cheap flight NBO-ADD-KRT-CAI-SIP-SVO-LED-LHR in Feb 1985. (not 100% certain of the Russian airports). Full throttle slow take off's I remember.
A map from the Great Circle Mapper - Great Circle Mapper