This study presents an analysis of the cluster environment in contemporary Russia: review of cluster initiatives and current situation. The methodology of cluster mapping by the European Cluster Observatory was modified according to the Russian conditions. In the frames of the study, this methodology was applied in the case of the Sverdlovsk region. Identified cluster groups were distributed according to different levels of development, taking into account the region's competitive advantages in terms of critical mass and revenue. The results of the analysis can be used to form and implement cluster policy in the region. On the basis of the developed methodology, it is possible to identify promising cluster groups in the region, to track the level of cluster initiatives development and the effectiveness of various support tools, using the developed criteria for monitoring the cluster environment.