Putin has a pop at NATO with “Western” Santa

Leave a CommentPutin has a pop at NATO with “Western” SantaFood for Thought

This Ded Moroz anti-NATO ad from Putin uses cultural symbols to convey political messages, aiming to undermine NATO’s image both domestically and internationally while reinforcing Russian national identity and geopolitical narratives.

Russia released a video showing “Western” red-clad Santa Claus complete with can of Coke, shot down by air defense over the Kremlin. Ded Moroz, (a legendary figure similar to Saint Nicholas and a big part of Russian culture) alongside an air defense operator, says: “Target destroyed. We don’t need anything foreign in our world. Happy New Year!”

The advertisement likely serves as a critique of NATO’s expansion and its support for Ukraine. By showing Ded Moroz delivering NATO weapons as “gifts,” it suggests that NATO’s involvement in Ukraine is not benevolent but rather a form of aggression or manipulation. This narrative aligns with Russia’s contention that NATO’s expansion eastward threatens Russian security, a sentiment often articulated by Vladimir Putin to justify actions like the annexation of Crimea or the military operations in Ukraine.

It also serves as demonizing western culture, pitting the morally superior Ded Moroz against the gluttonous, consumerist (see Coke in hand) Santa Claus.

The ad can be seen as part of a larger disinformation campaign aimed at both domestic and international audiences to sway public opinion against NATO. It portrays NATO’s actions as provocative, suggesting that the alliance is the instigator of conflict rather than Russia. This is consistent with patterns of Russian media output where NATO is often depicted as an existential threat to Russia’s sovereignty, thereby justifying Russian military and political moves.