Yes, a very interesting set of facts
Russia were certainly not too far behind the USA, after they had after all started the whole space thing off getting Sputnick into orbit, before the USA could get their satalite ready, in 1957. Then Russia got a dog into space, another first.
But of course the conspiracy theorists will say it all never happened, it was all done in a warehouse .
it wasnt a Warehoue, it was a Bread Factory, get it right Lizzie.
I was fortunate enough to go to Russias Star City Space Centre when I was in my Teens, and have to admit it was very impressive.
So who did Win the Space Race then, ? Put it this way, if you want to go into Space these days you need to learn to speak Russian and Take Off in a Russian Spacecraft in the middle of Kakistan.