Given the present world political climate, I think their claims are more propaganda than plan. I'd be very happy if they surprised me, though.
Expansion into and exploitation of space are grand goals, and just lately those seem to be in short supply. In the place of the manic optimism of our own space age (post WWII through the early 70's) we have a huge void. Without great goals we have aimless energies pulling us in all directions. It's been too long since we as Americans worked cohesively towards something. In the place of the glittering sci-fi cities in the sky and rockets to the moon we have decadent squalor and decay.
It says something when our greatest technological achievements are in consumer electronics and cosmetic surgeries. No cure for cancer, but we can get 67 year old women pregnant and make old men virile. We have the boon of nuclear power in our grasp, but bow to ignorance and pursue windmills that dessicate downwind areas or solar panels fabricated using toxic chemicals. We have the means to educate our youth effectively, but instead worry about diversity and self esteem, dooming them to mediocrity at best.
So, no, I don't think the Russkies will send a nuclear powered spaceship to Mars. I see more and more hollow claims to keep the one-upsmanship game going, but I doubt I'll see another great achievement in my lifetime. It would be nice, though.