Despots generally dont have a succession plan, due to the fact it weakens them.
When Stalin died there was a power struggle. Malenkov was expected to succeed, with Beria second in command then Kruschev. With the connivance of a weak Malenkov Beria was convicted of three main charges and was executed at the end of 1953. Just 9 months after his beloved leader had died, Stalin 's Head of Security was out of the way
Kruschev now turned to deal with Malenkov. He got political support to make Malenkov resign as First Secretary by Feb 1955.
Kruschev had learnt a lot from his mentor Stalin!!
Putin as former Head of the KGB was never going to be a peacemaker, rather he wanted the old large Russian and Soviet Empires.
What follows after him does not fill me with confidence that the aggression will stop.