Since they are a less open society, we'll never really know, but it seems logical that they have been thinking about the exact same issue. Contrary to common wisdom in the USA, I've yet to see any substantial evidence that the USSR/Russia was/is hot on lobbing nukes on our heads, so it would make sense they have thought about the balance between self-deterrence and second-strike readiness.

Some argue that the Dead Hand/Perimetr system, esp. the doomsday device components, have as much the goal to chill the own guys as deter a Western first strike.

(Satire)

Meanwhile, in the Kremlin, Putin orders that one nuclear code digit be inserted into the hearts of 20 men. There was widespread controversy when Putin forced them to remove it themselves in a practice fire drill last week. A Kremlin official responded: "Using 20 men has reduced our nuclear response time by 20 times".