You forgot to mention that both the Ukrainians and the Russians were tainted with mostly Viking genes brought in by riverboat from Norway via the Slavic part of Europe.
I grew up in Ontario and became anti-communist in my university years (I know, it sounds like a fantasy), but it was because I met people from Prague just newly escaped from Czechoslovakia, as well as fellow students who were libertarians. Before that, I was never exposed to any ideas that were remotely conservative, let alone anti-communist. It was the late 60s and early 70s, anti-Vietnam rallies and communes, etc etc. I wanted none of it and began to read up on U.S. politics and history, as I knew nothing about it (Canadian education basically ignored the elephant next door but we did learn a lot about medieval Europe). It is probably worse now, but at least learning about Stalin’s excesses will be useful if probably presented in a distorted way (the typical Ontario h.s. teacher is about as far left as a Portland ANTIFA organizer, only a touch less dangerous).
“I don’t want to tell you this, but socialists once, long long ago, did a bad thing.”
But more likely, it will all be Trump’s fault.
I didn't forget. Scandinavians did travel the rivers from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and the very name Rus' is said to have meant "river traveler" or "boatman". They took over Kyiv in the 9th century, and were the original power in the Rus' empire that was wiped out by the Mongols in 1237-42. But they didn't contribute much to the modern-day East Slavic gene pool. Probably because the Mongols killed almost everybody they met. Some historians I've read say that the steppe region that is now Ukraine, and the city of Kyiv, were entirely depopulated, which would have obliterated most if not all of the Scandinavian genes.