I believe Russia will always find a leader attacker.
Valentina Oguienko left and they thought no one will follow through but then there was Irina Smirnova Ilchenko. A much more powerful versatile attacker who can attach anywhere with a high ball.
Then she left but came back due to Karpol's strong connections and influence, Irina came back for Atlanta in a so so form.
Then came a much more explosive attacker with a great receiving skill in the form of Evguenia Artamonova.
Adding another strong support, Elena Godina who was also strong.
When Artamonova left after 1998, there was budding Sokolova and reliable Elena Godina. She had to perfect herself and she proved to be a scoring machine during BCV Volleymasters in Switzerland. but nobody thought Russia can be powerful with the absence of the great Artamonova. She came back 2000 and appeared to be in a peaking form. Even when Sokolova left in 2001-2003, they always had Artamonova to crush opponent's court with her naturalized opposite Godina..
During Sokolova was out, they needed another reliable attacker... Someone pull through even if she was so slow and lanky but didnt stop her from going above blockers in the form of Gamova.
She was a bit unstable but Artamonova was there and a reliable Godina who was benched by Gamova.
Until Artamonova left, then you had Gamova/Sokolova.
In 2003, Artamonova came with another exploding form but with a lot of skill and technique, variations in her explosiveness.
Athens came and Artamonova was injured and Sokolova left with disdain and so as Godina.. Nobody thought Russia can be on top without any solid and versatile attacker. Not even Gamova at that time helped. They lost in Euro Olympic qualifications for Athens until they needed to play the world Olympic qualifiers with weaker opponents.
Karpol, again with his connections and influence, they were able to bring back Sokolova with a peaking form after superbly playing in the Italian league. Sokolova/Gamova were Athens volleyball vs the more balanced China that peaked.
Beijing, you had all of them with different forms although they weren't peaking altogether. It was a waste.
before London Olympics, they were still relying on Sokolova/Gamova while fine tuning other powerful potential attackers. Godina retired. Then can the budding power hitters, Anna Makaraova, Goncharova and Kosheleva.
No one is still standing out although Goncharova had the chance to prove herself but still hasn't reached 5 stars as a player.
I believe someday, the team will pull through even without Gamova.
So there is still Russia, it's just a matter of time to wait for younger, newer players to achieve their greatest potential.