What Russia did back in 1950s, with the fall of the Soviet Union between then and now, really doesn't have any bearing on their capabilities now. They're still flying a Soyuz launch vehicle the majority of the time, and while it's very reliable, it's from something like the 80s. Since the end of the American space shuttle program, the US through NASA and private companies have created, built, and successfully launched 2 low Earth orbit launch vehicles. Not to mention the multiple deep space launch systems that are in development. And Russia continues to use the Soyuz.