Info from the link below supports Steyn. The CIA World Fact Book data may just be out of date.
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/ecohost/projects/mortality-russia.htm
From the linked site:
Profile of Mortality Crisis in Russia
The recent increase in mortality is real and not due to problems in data collection.
Life expectancy at birth has fallen between 1990 and 1995 by 6.3 years for men (63.8 to 57.5) and by 3.4 years for women (74.4 to 71.0).
The increase in mortality began in the late 1980's and rose sharply in 1992. Mortality rates have increased most steeply among men and women of working age. The biggest increase has been among those in their early 40s.
Mortality has increased in all categories but the most marked increases are in dealths from fatal events (eg. accidents, injuries, suicides, posonings) and in deaths from cardiovascular disease.
Alcohol consumption played a much larger role in the mortality crisis than had been previously suspected.
The deterioration of the health care system could not account for the sharp decrease in life expectancy.
Diet and smoking play a crucial part in long-term mortality trends but could not account for recent changes.