Many areas governed by Russia had German-speaking populations.  Not only Volkdeutschen, but portions of Prussia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Example:  The city known today as Kaliningrad, Russia, was once Königsberg, Prussia.

--
Ken Ryesky,  Petach Tikva, Israel     kenneth.ryesky@... 

Researching:
RAISKY/REISKY, ARONOV, SHKOLNIK(OV), AEROV; Gomel, Belarus
GERTZIG, BRODSKY; Yelizavetgrad, Ukraine
BRODSKY, VASILESKY; Odessa, Ukraine
IZRAELSON, ARSHENOV; Yevpatoriya, Ukraine (Crimea)