At least two commanders were removed, there were still unrealized commanders (at least unrealized Soviet). I'm sure Relic still has unrealized content and developments.
A portrait does not equal everything else being ready.
Its just a portrait.
The only things Soviets didn't got was vet3 T34 call-in and shit-tier cheaper then T-70 T-34 call-in that has half health, damage and gets stunned by everything.
And neither of these sound particularly exciting, especially since sit tier T-34s were in one of ToW if memory serves me right.