What should I know about mailing small articles to Russia?

I run an Etsy shop and a Russian buyer has purchased some small ephemeral items from me (that can fit in an envelope and only be just a tiny bit bulky). I have his address in Cyrillic. The problem here is that I’ve been reading up on mailing to Russia and apparently it’s sketchy and difficult as hell, as well as absurdly expensive. And I’ve heard that corrupt customs officials will steal anything they can get their hands on assuming you pony up the exorbitant fee to ship.

So here are my questions:

1. What would be the best (and cheapest) way to mail five or six stickers and a postcard to someone in Tagnarog, Russia?

2. Do I write his name and address in Cyrillic on the envelope? Or do I write it in English? (I know the proper translation already).

3. What other caveats or tips should I be aware of?

I should also note that I have talked to the guy a few times on facebook, so he won’t be super mad if shipping takes a tad long or whatnot. He’s a nice dude.

Thanks in advance.