Russia has worked to maintain economic ties to former soviet republics by creating a counterbalance to the european union called

It is called The Eurasian Economic Union or the EAEU. It consists of five states: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It started functioning in 2015 with Kyrgyzstan joining a bit later. This union was made to counterbalance the EU and it's tendencies to spread their politics worldwide.

This is the Eurasian Economic Union. This was formed by President Putin with a goal of bringing many of the former Soviet Bloc republics back into line with Russia and giving them all a common economic market. This will give Russia an independent market that will not be as beholden to other countries, giving them a stronger foothold in world affairs.