Critical changes in magnetic observations in Russia were connected with the project initiated by Russian, Ukrainian, and West European magnetologists in the late 1990ties. This project named CRENEGON (Creation of a Renewed Network of basic Geomagnetic Observatories of NIS countries) allowed to five NIS observatories to join INTERMAGNET. This paper gives a short sketch of the Earth's magnetic field measurements in the Soviet Union and NIS countries since the IGY-1957. A role of cooperation with European magnetologist community in recovering observations is discussed. Problems of providing high-quality magnetic measurements at modern observatories are considered. Final part of the report presents proposals for deployment of national network of magnetic monitoring.