Over the last week, Russia has made abundantly clear that it is increasing its support for Syria, which is in the midst of a four-year long civil war and fighting against ISIS, deploying military advisers and setting up a forward operating base.
Moscow has backed Damascus throughout the civil war, both militarily and diplomatically, blocking United Nations Security Council resolutions that would have placed pressure on the Syrian government or condemned it for human rights abuses.
That's where 16-year old weightlifting champion Maryana Naumova enters the picture.
Last week, she accepted an invitation to visit Syria, and has produced a string of photos and videos of her time meeting government officials.
On her VKontakte page, Naumova posted a picture posing with Syrian soldiers.
