I am sure, it will be fascinating journey for you, BryanK. I mean studying our beautiful language. Some people are surprisingly good at languages, so one year could be sufficient term.
I hope you will not go to Moscow ? (because it is not quite Russia). Though, in other places, the assertion "many Russians speak English" is even less true!

Deborski,
Can you tell, how did you find yourself in USSR?
Nice photo, BTW