From my perspective, it would make sense to say "the "Russians" were responsible for everything up through end of Tsarist rule in 1917, since that was an organic outgrowth of centuries of valid historical processes, and "Russians" (Slavic, native tribes assimilated, native tribes NOT assimilated, and Jewish immigrants from anti-Semitic parts of Western Europe), as peoples and as individuals over centuries had time to try to influnce the historical processes.
By contrast, it makes sense for Russians to absolutely reject any responsibility for Soviet rule and its mass murder and repression (especially of the Russians and Ukrainians) precisely because it was an a-historical process, a shock to the system which took place almost instantly, and an internationalist conspiracy led by people almost entirely NOT of Slavic-Russian heritage. In other words, even if the Soviet dictatorship had been the most benign rule in the world, it still was NOT an organic outgrowth of Russian history. It need not and would not have happened except for foreign funding e.g. from Imperial Germany.
I guess the analogy would be let's suppose a comet hits the United States and because of the shock to the system with massive death and disruption, there comes widespread dictatorship, murder, kidnapping, starvation, etc. (sort of like Communism). Would it be fair to accuse Americans of the post-disaster loss of civic values? What if a dictator drafted men in such an environment and invades Canada and Mexico and kills millions? I think you can at least see the analogy.
We can all pray to the Lord for healing of the horrors of the past century.
Okay. I see a glimmer of hope. I do believe you must look a little harder at the fact that while some of the actual dictators where not Russian, they could not wield their power alone. It took many many willing individuals to carry out the policies. It's like Germans trying to blame all of Nazism on just Hitler alone. I've gone through the same process with my Ukrainian heritage, see the good, but not ignore the bad. Hope for real change ( which is major reason I am disappointed in current state of affairs, fear they have not learned lessons of past).
Really wish common Russians nothing but the best. Hope they can get a chance to live free and prosperous. It's up to them now.
And finally can agree completely with your final statement.
See, there is some hope after all Gospodin.