Not every relationship is an imperial-vassal one.
Russia was providing aid to Syria against Israel, until the Western imperialist-backed “moderate rebels” finally seized power, and Assad fled to Moscow. This was the culmination of a project that started as soon as France gave up control in 1946. Russia also recently helped Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso kick the French military out.
Whether Russia will eventually turn imperialist on these states remains to be seen. I don’t think it’s in a position to in the foreseeable future, because that wouldn’t sit well with the imperialist states nor with China.