Putin wasn't confident that the Russian economy could maintain its momentum going into the Ukrainian conflict. This was always one of the considerations with the US strategy and thinking among other more optimistic projections.
It backfired and the current running joke in Russia is to thank Biden for making Russia independent from the West. Instead, the major European economies are reversing while Russia's continue to grow. The bonus is the Russian MIC is very much alive, kicking and pumping out weapons to maintain the depth of the SMO momentum v NATO stockpile empty, unable to keep Ukies using shelling with impunity. Russia is now the most experienced military outfit diverging from basic warfare tactics into the "stolen Washing machine chips" for their drone option.
In time you will see the technology that came from the Iranians reciprocated which will eventually find its way to the Houthis.
