In the wake of Russia's failures to subdue Ukraine, Putin has turned to an unlikely ally for military help: Iran.
Now, as Russian Troops slog through a war of attrition against Ukraine's freedom fighters, Iran is supplying Russia with advanced military drones designed to break the will of Ukraine's citizens and soldiers.
It's an astonishing escalation of war.
And as Mark points out, it should serve as an alarming warning to the world of Iran's military ambitions.