Abstract
The chapter presents the features of Russian colonial expansion. It claims that Russia usually annexed newly conquered territories immediately - simply expanding its administrative structures into newly created governorates, krais or oblasts.
However, in occupied territories with more densely concentrated populations and firmer state structures, Russia contented itself with the formation of protectorates, territories of influence, and buffer zones. Protectorate status was also used if the claimed territory formed part of another state which was unwilling to relinquish it.
Although most of these entities existed in a form of pre-stage before full annexation by Russia, some of these entities survived for a longer period and in many regards resembled present-day de facto states.