A couple of noob questions:

[Imp]

As scorpio says

1) Use combined forces accompany your tanks with infantry they see a lot better.
Be aware Russia has some of the worst experience & morale in the game especially at the start.
Later on you will be better than the Germans as theirs takes a dive.

2) Space your trucks out to minimise number hit by a strike but trucks are always risky they are not a frontline vehicle APCs are taxis though pretty rare for the Ruskies.

3) Either "shoot & scoot" as said or don't fire constantly & produce smoke puffs. Firing constantly also increases our chance of appearing on map due to specialist equipment detecting you. Sound or trajectory give you away.
Lower experience Ruskies takes longer for you to detect them as a rule.

4) As mainly on foot reduce the map width to 80 - 100 hexes to reduce time to contact & need for trucks.
Switching over to AI control is not that effective, the only time I have used it was simulating a night attack so I let them get a little disorganised or lost.
Shrinking the map width should also make the enemy more coherent as it gives less time for them to become spaced out.