Russia has three current spheres of influence (Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Crimea, and Eastern Ukraine), but Russia's actual sphere of influence in the post-Soviet space doesn't really exist because those countries are suspicious of Russia and recognize it could annex them.
factualpending
Speaker
Steven CodkinEvidence Quote
“Russia doesn't really have the sphere of influence it's pining for in the postsviet space because it doesn't really have soft power and because those countries are suspicious of Russia and Bellarus like Kazakhstan knows that Russia could annex it”
Source
Stephen Kotkin: Sphere of Influence I - The Gift of Geopolitics: How Worlds are Made, and Unmade— IWMViennaCreated: 8/12/2026, 6:14:33 PM
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