That used to be the case, I wouldn't really say it's a sure thing at all anymore. In Afghanistan we more or less "rented" the night. By 2011 most forces hardly did anything at night (especially in Helmand), this was due to the IED threat. Not only does it become extremely difficult to see ground sign under nods, the Taliban would turn on a lot more IEDs at night by applying power sources to the ones they turned off during the day. They would power down a lot of them during the day so locals could tend their farms and use footpaths and stuff. Most night ops (outside of major offensives like the insert into Marjah) were only done by Special Operations, and only after a couple days of MASINT flights to determine where IEDs were around whatever compound was going to be hit, or occupied for something like a 72 hour mission. Even then it was usually only a night insert, and then movement along a certain route to a certain objective, and a white light search of the compound for IEDs was usually still conducted.
Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of PVS14s and even PVS15s the Taliban inherited from the ANA after we left.
Doesn't appear these Russians have them (maybe they're being complacent and didn't have them on?) but the Russians definitely have night vision goggles for their individual soldiers, maybe not all but a substantial amount. So much so that some of the guys my buddy was over there with came back to the states and are attempting to get the military to take hard look at the use of PEQ15's and similar devices. If the enemy can see your IR aiming device, that's not good because obviously now he knows exactly where you are, especially in the case of something in a more fixed position like a machine gun position or sniper rifle.
They're probably just looking through their Eotech/Aimpoint set to NVG mode with their nods.
Funny thing I've been hearing about the more widespread use of suppressors in this war...
In a raid like this, they for sure have a place, but the guys in the trenches are giving mixed reviews. Any of us that have ran or own silencers know how hot they get.... this becomes a serious problem on the battlefield when you're moving, taking cover, pilling into a truck, etc. Guys are getting serious burns, gear melted and messed up, etc..
US needs to be practicing and developing this capability, we aren't.