This paper analyses cooperation between state institutions and state-owned energy companies of the Russian Federation on the basis of three examples of outward foreign direct investments (OFDI): the acquisition by nuclear power company Atomstroyexport of Nukem Technologies in Germany; the gas giant Gazprom and its South Stream investment package in Hungary; and the oil company Zarubezhneft’s acquisition of the Optima Group in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The research is based on the analyses of media reports, official state and company documents, and interviews conducted with representatives of the state-owned energy companies and state officials. The analysis suggests that Russian state-owned energy companies only initiate cooperation with state institutions when the circumstances require certain financial and diplomatic support to conduct OFDI.