The trouble with flying to Moscow via anywhere is that it takes 'all day' if you count the time difference.
Roll on a non stop service some day
Trouble is with a 3.5 hour flight time, a 3 hour clock change, and a good hour for the Russian arrival formalities, it will still take all day.
The upside is coming home it's 3.5 hours MINUS 3 hours on the clock, so the direct flight can seem to occupy little time at all !