For those of you who may be interested in how fast the Moscow VAC is operating, they've received our application on September 30th and we received tracking information today, 19 days later, with the note that they've sent the papers to the Embassy. I'm expecting it'll take at least a week or two to get it back in Novosibirsk.
We finally got our tracking numbers from the VAC and note that they have sent it on to iRCC in Moscow (i.e. the embassy). Judging by the speed above, not expecting it'll move that fast, but at least progress.