Abstract: The paper focuses on a comprehensive discussion of G. A. Leonov’s results aimed at analyzing the Zhukovsky stability of a solution to a nonlinear autonomous system by linearization. The main contribution is deriving the linear system that approximates dynamics of the original nonlinear systems transverse to the vector-flow on a nominal behavior. As illustrated, such a linear comparison system becomes instrumental in the analysis and re-design of classical feedback controllers developed previously for the stabilization of motions of nonlinear mechanical systems.