In his bi-weekly column, Jarábik argues that the war in Iran has tilted the balance in Russia’s favor through rising oil prices that strengthen its war economy and the diversion of scarce air defense missiles away from Ukraine. He highlights that Ukraine is trying to offset this disadvantage through its expanding use (and offer to the Gulf) of drones, which have become a key tool of military adaptation. Yet, while Ukraine’s drone operations are highly visible and effective in shaping narratives, their actual impact - particularly in intercepting threats - remains more technologically limited.