A controversial Russian propaganda video depicting Santa Claus being shot down over Moscow has unleashed a torrent of global outrage.
At a Glance
- Russian propaganda channels released a video showing Santa Claus being shot down by Russian air defenses over Moscow.
- The video depicts Santa Claus with NATO-branded missiles and a can of Coca-Cola, symbolizing Western commercialism.
- Grandfather Frost, the Russian equivalent of Santa, is shown congratulating an operator for shooting down Santa.
- The video’s release coincided with the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, leading to criticism of insensitivity.
Symbolic Depictions and Global Outrage
The controversial video released by Russian propaganda channels shows Santa Claus being shot down by Russian air defenses over Moscow. This depiction intends to portray Santa as a Western menace, equipped with NATO-branded missiles and a can of Coca-Cola, symbols of Western commercialism.
The video contrasts Western symbols of globalization with Russian tradition through the character of Grandfather Frost. In the video, Grandfather Frost congratulates the Air Defense operator for shooting down Santa, reinforcing the cultural dichotomy portrayed in the video.
Grandfather Frost is a Slavic rival to Santa Claus and rather darker https://t.co/WOx560nlH8 https://t.co/C28E8AugSW
— David Hambling (@David_Hambling) December 27, 2024
With the portrayal of Western influences as threats, the video stands as a provocative piece of anti-Western propaganda. Its timing, soon after the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, has been criticized as particularly insensitive. The video’s high production values suggest significant backing, featuring actor Dmitry Melnikov and spreading widely across international wavelengths.
The release has sparked outrage and ridicule worldwide, viewed as a propaganda blunder. It highlights Russia’s use of cultural symbols in its propaganda efforts to cultivate nationalistic sentiments.
You can watch the strange video here:
Three days after Russian air defenses shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane, Russian propaganda channels release a video of Russian air defenses shooting down Santa Claus because “we don’t want anything foreign in our skies.” Cc: foreign airlines still flying to Russia. pic.twitter.com/I1MHJTdbxa
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) December 27, 2024
The video has been criticized not only for its content and timing but also for potentially backfiring on Russia’s cultural diplomacy efforts. The nature of the video underscores the power and impact of state-controlled media content in shaping narratives and perceptions globally.
If Russia wants to be friendly with the West, this is a weird way of going about it.
