Not so simple in Russia.
Lot's of pressure often brought to bear/connecting flights/return slots, plane has to fly on time, or maybe won't fill the quota for the day where distances can be large.
What I don't understand is any pressure to be "on time at all costs" on this flight.
My bold above
But we don't know that is a fact on this flight. After all it's a crew decision and their justification that is in question and that is not in evidence as yet