Russia was a science and technology powerhouse?

Who knew? The Christian Science Monitor seems to think so, but if memory serves me well, Russia was all about stealing free workld tech from us, Germany and the Brits. The technology that got them into space was stolen from Germany at the end of WW2. Granted, we stole a bunch as well, but our advances got us to the moon, a reusable space vehicle, as well as scores of inventions that litter the world and make life easier for all. Russia couldn't get a grain harvest to market let alone develop technology.
Sorry, but Fred Weir failed on that article.