That’s because the standard Russian greeting - здравствуйте - means “Be well!”, more or less, ” Как дела?”, another standard greeting, means “How are things”, the follow-up is usually “Xорошо”—“fine”, and the greeting formalities are done. “How are you” does not register as a standard greeting, but rather as a genuine enquiry about one’s condition.
That’s because the standard Russian greeting - здравствуйте - means “Be well!”, more or less, ” Как дела?”, another standard greeting, means “How are things”, the follow-up is usually “Xорошо”—“fine”, and the greeting formalities are done. “How are you” does not register as a standard greeting, but rather as a genuine enquiry about one’s condition.