A power vacuum does not exist for long.
The Russian Federation may be almost prostrate economically, but they still have a clear vision of how to drag themselves back up. Just occupy the “world’s policeman” post that is now being vacated by the regime now in control of the territory once known as “the United States of America”.
Projection of military power is still one of the defining characteristics of a first-tier national focus. China is well on the way to acquiring a blue-water navy as well.
More importantly those little “stans “will slow down the Chinese when they invade giving Russia time to arm up