Face masks is just a reduction in area of danger perhaps, its a bit similar to 6 feet distance rule. Doesnt mean it works and both measures are minor to the main risk of catching it on hands and/or mucous membrane which is the eye nose mouth, thats the big one so far as I know.
Russia developing a cure especially well would be a surprise, good for them if they can do it but Im not sure I trust their testing process to avoid apparent risks in the process. Worst thing is to make a vaccine that causes problems to some then you will never hear the end of the anti vax movement that are currently mostly idiots.
This has to be the biggest problem with the development of the vaccine, all the world wants to have the vaccine available as soon as possible but the reason it takes so long is because scientists need to make sure they are as safe as possible before they start the production, if those safety measures are skipped to try to release it to the public as fast as possible and then we begin to see incidents all over the world this could generate such distrust on vaccines that many other diseases that we can treat right now could make a comeback as people decide to not get vaccinated out of fear.
It is better for the vaccine to take a little longer and we continue with the safety measures during that time than to try to rush the vaccine.