The paper examines the sources of Russia’s proclivity to institutionalize subordination and intervention as patterns of regional order in the post-Soviet space. Methodologically, the study relies on theoretical assumptions of the English school that help explore the essence of the hegemonic projects Russia has sought to implement in its neighborhood since the middle of the twentieth century. In the end, the author concludes that distinct legitimacy concerns have decisively shaped Russia’s hegemonic strategy of arranging its “spheres of influence” as hierarchical international societies relying on their own rules of membership and conduct.