Von Neumann has a result (rather well-known in convex analysis circles) which states that every orthogonally invariant matrix norm (meaning $\| P M Q\| = \| M \|,$ for any orthogonal $P, Q$) is a symmetric gauge of the singular values. This is a very nice and very useful result, for which the reference is (see also bibtex below):
J. von Neumann, Some matrix inequalities and metrization of matric space. Mitt. Forschungsinst. Math. Mech. Kujbyschew-Univ. Tomsk 1, 286-300 (1937).
The question is really one of history:
how did von Neumann (who was already in Princeton at the time) decide to publish in a Tomsk University proceedings?
Tomsk is very far from anywhere in Russia, and I am not aware of anything else that appeared there.
Bibtex reference:
@Misc{zbMATH02519847,
Author = {J. {von Neumann}},
Title = {{Some matrix inequalities and metrization of matric space.}},
Year = {1937},
Language = {English},
HowPublished = {{Mitt. Forschungsinst. Math. Mech. Kujbyschew-Univ. Tomsk 1, 286-300 (1937).}},
Zbl = {63.0037.03}
}