Only someone ignorant equates modern-day Russia to the Old Soviet Union.
Anyone can see what life is like in Russia through many vloggers that post everyday on social media, including many Americans that live in Russia.
My grandfather was a bohemian and he lived to be a ripe old age and used to tell us boys’ stories and one of those stories or many of those stories he told were basically there’s no love lost between the various Slavic tribes and the the Russians, he never knew the Soviets because he came to America before the World War I. In a lot of cases it’s the enemy of my enemy, the Slavs could rally and work between themselves against the common enemy was for centuries have been the Russians.
I’m inclined to believe that over your belittling comment that it’s nonsensical.