Russia is actually very big. When we talk about Russian bees as a “breed” we are referring to a very specific line of bees that were imported to the US from the Primorsky Krai region in Russia.
Beekeeping developments in that region had resulted in Apis mellifera being introduced into the region from Western and Central Europe. The varroa mite is endemic to the area and resides in the indigenous A.cerana hives.