[Facts] Re: Mushkie/Mushka/Mussya/Mussia
TIL that Moussia is an Ukrainian hypochorisitc form of Maria. In a Jewish context it can be Miryam. Mushka is than a diminutive of Moussia.
An an aside: One of the Soviet space dogs was named Mushka with the Russian meaning "little fly". Mushka didn't survive the space flight, the capsule was destroyed on reentry to Earth.