I bet learning Russian was mandatory in Ukraine schools during the Soviet era.
When I was in Kiev in 2012 and 2013, I was surprised the number of the locals that spoke some, if not fluent, English. They appeared to have a big push to teach English to the children. The further distant I was from the city the less prevalent it was. When I got to Simferopol, English was almost nonexistent except at the hotel.
>>I bet learning Russian was mandatory in Ukraine schools during the Soviet era.
In Cuba and Germany too. What is your point?