> For example consider the word "энергия" (energy) - the first and the third letters sound the same in this word and the same they sound in English
Apparently, as recently as in the 1950s, both palatalized ("soft") and non-palatalized ("hard") /n/ in the second syllable of this word were recognized as variants of the normal pronunciation in Russian dictionaries.
This has and always will be the case with spelling vs pronunciation. Pronunciation tends to change much faster over time than does spelling.
Apparently, as recently as in the 1950s, both palatalized ("soft") and non-palatalized ("hard") /n/ in the second syllable of this word were recognized as variants of the normal pronunciation in Russian dictionaries.
This has and always will be the case with spelling vs pronunciation. Pronunciation tends to change much faster over time than does spelling.