I'm not Russian or Ukrainian, but I suspect this stems from the Stalin's treatment of occupied Ukraine in the early 1930's, where so much of their grain was shipped out of the country that 25% of Ukraine's population had died by 1933.
I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Often the core of comedy is pain. Knowing this puts the GP's joke in a darker, more grounded context.
Dark humor is like food. Not everyone gets it.
Meta humor
I suspect the reason is that in many western nations, it's becoming politically incorrect to paint socialism/communism in a negative light, despite the realities of the 20th century (and present atrocities being committed by the current mainland Chinese government).
You’re not referring to North America, which has spent the past century propagandizing against socialism, I presume?