Santa's missile mission: Russian propaganda twists Christmas

Much of the information conveyed by Russian media and government representatives is likely not true. Such reports may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.

The video begins with a scene where Santa Claus pilots a sleigh loaded with missiles marked with North Atlantic Alliance symbols. Representing Western values, Santa makes his way to the Russian capital, prompting an immediate response.

At a critical moment in the film, Russian air defense takes action, intercepting and destroying the "threat" with the help of the Orthodox equivalent of Santa Claus, known as Ded Moroz. After neutralizing the Western "attack," he declares significant words: "Good, we don't need anything foreign in our skies."

This material is a blatant example of propaganda directed at Russian society, aiming to portray the West as a threat and emphasize the need to defend against foreign influences.

The clever use of Christmas symbolism—Santa Claus, who does not have the same roots in Russian tradition as in the West—intends to highlight the contrast between the "foreign" and "native".

The video quickly became a topic of discussion online, both in Russia and abroad. For some, it's seen as an example of skilled media manipulation and emotionally charged messaging, while for others, it's viewed as an absurd depiction of holiday symbols in a military context.

There are also voices expressing criticism of the excessive antagonizing of relations with the West, especially during the holidays, which are supposed to unite.

The Russian propaganda material is one of many examples of how global symbols can be used for political purposes.