It's definitely so that Putin is curious to subvert and destabilise wherever he only can.

....he's keen to 'hit back at the USA' - at every opportunity. That's why even the IRGC was rocketing different US positions in Iraq and…

It's definitely so that Putin is curious to subvert and destabilise wherever he only can. Kind of, 'see what you get without me, or if you do not follow my "advice": only Putin is a guarantee for safety and stability'.

....he's keen to 'hit back at the USA' - at every opportunity. That's why even the IRGC was rocketing different US positions in Iraq and Syria, the last two-three months: the IRGC is still keen to have a sort of strategic alliance with Russia.

....and he's, definitely, keen to distract from (negative) developments in Ukraine.

From his point of view, everything goes - as long as it's scoring PR-points at him, at least in Russia.