On December 27, just as many were gearing up for the New Year, Russian propaganda channels released a holiday video depicting Santa Claus being shot down by air defense systems over Moscow. The video, which rapidly gained traction online, portrays Santa flying through the festive skies of Moscow when his sleigh, laden with presents and even some NATO-emblazoned rockets, is intercepted by missile fire. The spectacle climaxes with Santa’s downing transforming the festive scene above the city.
Within moments of the shootdown, the video cuts to the air defense operator, who is seated with his comrade dressed as Ded Moroz—a character familiar to many as the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus. The air defense operator declares, "All right, the target is destroyed." To which Ded Moroz replies, "Enough foreign things in our skies," indicating the overtly nationalistic tone of the propaganda piece.
The video, described by Ostorozhno, Novosti, correlates intriguingly with recent events surrounding the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight AZAL 251, which went down on December 25 near Akтау, allegedly adhering to reports of external weapon influence. Sources, including the Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport, suggested the plane was shot down by Russian air defense, purportedly reacting to threats from Ukrainian drones.
The juxtaposition of Santa being attacked by Russian military might and these real-world tragedies raises both eyebrows and questions. Notably, many social media users linked the video directly to the crash, questioning the timing and purpose of such propaganda.
According to actor Dmitry Melnikov, who portrayed the air defense operator, the video was filmed months prior and is not related to the tragic plane incident. Under contractual obligation, he refrained from naming the video's creators, acknowledging instead the propagandistic spirit of the footage.
While it may seem jarring to pair holiday joy with military aggression, such productions are part of Russia's broader strategy to communicate its narratives about sovereignty and national pride. Media outlets like RT have consistently released videos of similar themes, portraying narratives aimed at both Russian-speaking and international audiences, effectively reinforcing propaganda through familiar tropes.
This video vividly recalls similar past instances, such as one from three years agowhen Czech media depicted Santa’s sleigh being intercepted over military airspace, accompanied by festive restructuring where he was allowed to continue his Christmas cheer after being grounded.
With the holiday season providing fertile ground for such narratives, along with recent tragedies associated with military actions, the line between festive cheer and wartime propaganda increasingly blurs. Observers are left pondering the lasting impact of these portrayals and whether they generate real support for militaristic rhetoric or merely serve as misguided, albeit amusing, attempts to critique foreign influences.
Overall, the release of this Santa Claus-themed shootdown video elicited polarizing reactions, fusing holiday spirit with contemporary conflicts over media representation and foreign relations. Its mixing of festive imagery and military action serves as not only a reflection of the current sociopolitical milieu but also prompts audiences to critically engage with the nature of propaganda during traditional times of celebration.
