VLADIMIR Putin’s propaganda machine has plunged to sick new depths after releasing a bizarre video appearing to kill a Western version of Santa.
Footage shows a jolly Father Christmas soaring over the Kremlin in his sleigh – before being blasted out of the sky in a fiery Russian explosion.
The video was shared across Russian social media channels just days after the tragic Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people.
The Christmas Day disaster saw the aircraft erupt into a fireball amid reports that it was shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
Russia‘s latest propaganda piece carries an eerie similarity to the real-life tragedy as Putin’s air defences are seen shooting down Santa in a calculated strike.
The social media video from Putin’s problematic propaganda machine features a traditional version of St Nick in his sleigh flying above a Russian Christmas market.
In the back of the magical motor he appears to have Nato missiles and rockets instead of presents.
The weapons closely resemble Trident and Minuteman III ICBM missiles used by Nato forces.
As a can of Coca-Cola is also in the bushy bearded Santa’s hand.
This seems to show the version of Father Christmas is a Western depiction in the evil eyes of Vlad and his cronies.
The red Mr Claus can be heard shouting: “Hey Russians, here are your presents, Happy New Year.”
Moments later a giant rocket is sent hurtling at the reindeer pulling the sleigh as a huge fireball blast erupts.
A cloud of thick, white smoke billows above Moscow with Santa seemingly eliminated in the strike.
In the celebratory Russian attack, fireworks explode as onlookers welcome in the New Year.
A follow-up shot then shows a more traditional Russian depiction of Santa sat next to a Kremlin air defences operator.
This version of the festive friend is dressed in blue and is commonly referred to as white-bearded Grandfather Frost in Russia.
As he watches on, Grandfather Frost asks the operator: “That’s it?”
The young man, played by popular Russian TV actor Dmitry Melnikov, replies: “The target has been destroyed.”
Russian Santa then proudly announces “we don’t need anything foreign in our skies”.
The video is being spread online by propaganda Telegram channels.
Soviet music synonymous with a famous New Year’s film is being played in the background of the video.
The movie is titled ‘The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!’.
Melnikov was asked about the bizarre video following its release but he has refused to reveal who made the mini-film, citing a non disclosure agreement.
The video has already been hit with complaints over its similarities to the doomed Azerbaijan Airlines crash.
The Embraer 190 plane had been travelling from Baku, in Azerbaijan, to Grozny, in Russia’s Chechnya on Christmas before it crash landed.
Several reports have linked the tragedy to Russia since with many alleging the plane was attacked by air defence missiles.
An initial investigation reportedly found that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system, according to Azerbaijani government sources.
Four sources told Reuters that the plane was downed as it flew over the country.
A US official told Reuters these comments are “early indications” of what may have happened and that it would point to “Russian recklessness”.
Euronews later said the plane was targeted by a surface-to-air missile from the Kremlin’s arsenal.
Russia is yet to comment on the crash with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refusing to address it both yesterday and today.
On Wednesday, authorities in Russia and Kazakhstan both claimed the crash was caused by a bird strike.
