This is a very generic and abstract statement. If you think that the growth could happen without economic reforms that took place in early 2000s, please explain how exactly could that happen in the aftermath of second Chechen War and economic crisis of 1998.
What you saw in early 2000s in Russia was mostly caused by reforms in 1990s, but times were already turning to worse.
1. Tax reform: flat income tax of 13%, reduction in total number of taxes by 70%, reduction in social security tax, introduction of severance tax (captured 84% of profits from oil and gas in state budget)
2. Zero budget deficit and significant reduction of foreign debt
3. Reform of land ownership: created free market of the land
4. New Labor code and pension reform
5. Reform of banking sector and new bankruptcy law
But Putin has always been the man he is now – the war in Chechnya began in 1999.