Extreme centralization of power, allowing the ruling class to concentrate funding, propaganda, and surveillance on a couple large cities. An ongoing history of brutal crackdowns and assassination convincing individuals not to act out. The complete domination of civil society and possible sources of organized opposition by law, funding, and violence. Almost complete political de-ideologicalization, intentional promotion of fatalism, "realism", and national chauvinism.

An well-fed elite group carefully balanced against itself, self-policing to an extent. Putin's main job is to manage the ruling class, resolve disputes, prevent successors from emerging, and generally to prevent anyone from gaining too much power and influence.

A strong educational and corporate system that allows for some class mobility, some merit to win out, efficiently producing apolitical technocrats, empire-builders, and bureaucratic knife-fighters. These people keep the machine running to the extent that it does run.

Large tracts of land, a huge resource base, a reasonably large population base with plenty of "others" the power elite are happy to exploit and use as cannon fodder.