In Croatia, you are expected to learn a second language. Usually French, German, English and Italian are the ones people choose. Some older Croats under in Yugoslavia chose Russian, but it was less common and probably very rare these days.

Russian is not a primary or widely spoken language in Croatia, as the official language is Croatian, which belongs to the South Slavic group (whereas Russian is East Slavic). While the two languages share linguistic roots and some vocabulary, they are not mutually intelligible; an average Croatian will not understand a fluent Russian speaker without specific study. Historically, during the Yugoslav era, Russian was taught in some schools due to political ties with the Eastern Bloc, but this practice largely faded after the 1960s in favor of English, German, and Italian. Today, you may find Russian spoken within the small ethnic Russian minority (around 1,500 people) or among the growing number of Ukrainian refugees and Russian expatriates living in cities like Zagreb or Split. Furthermore, because Croatia is a major tourism hub, some workers in high-end hotels and luxury coastal resorts may speak basic Russian to cater to international travelers. However, for daily communication, English is by far the most useful second language, followed by German and Italian, which are common in the Istrian and Dalmatian regions.