Russia can in the near future launch it's own R2P mission get a CSTO mission approval into Donetsk against genocide. I mean shit if Russia has to dsal with the bs of Lukashenko, Pashinyan, Aliyev, the tajiks and kyrgyz then what gives? They need to provide security for Genocide of donbass right!?
With russia basically mediating in every conflict throughout the post soviet space, the sphere of influence is established de facto and de jure with these kind of deployments.
Russia should not just help these countries to be parasites and leech from Russia. But Russia can get many benefits cooperating with them all, and advising the government to be sovereign and to sign beneficial deals which can benefit the populations of those countries to do some nice trade.
Of course the weapons deals will be necessary to establish security, and a base to train the allies, but dam it sure feels good to be a gangsta