The Russians are in a tough spot geo-politically as well as and in history.
IMO they will have to play very rough for the foreseeable future.
Putin is a Communist, period. If he had the troops to bring back a Communist government, he would do so in a second.
Right now, local politics in Russia are still dominated by Communists, although they may be called something else.
Communism in Russia will return in a more streamlined fashion. Rather then try to dominate by military force, they will do it on the political stage. Territory is a no win proposal. No one can hold that much land as the oppressor. It will be done at the ideology level.
We just have to pray that the 60's radicals die soon and that the Conservative movement in college gets legs. Oh, and four more years of Bush/Cheney.