Hi,
#20 will think about standalone server as part of the game, or no need to use a server at all. Before the server performance was kind of an issue with that, but this already is less of an issue because it was coded in a different way, so there is a chance to implement it.
#23 members of that Russian community approached me and offered me to sponsor some important parts of the game infrastructure so I wouldn't have to put all the money myself as happened before. That's why we have got such deal. The russian community will get a release 2 weeks before everyone else.