The pro-Kremlin Telegram channel on Friday aired a New Year’s video showing Russian air defense systems shooting down Santa Claus’ reindeer sleigh.
The video, first shared by the Pul N3 Telegram channel, begins with Santa flying through central Moscow to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
“Hello, Russian! Here’s a present for you,” Santa Claus says while drinking a Coca-Cola as the camera zooms in on a sleigh loaded with rockets emblazoned with the NATO logo.
“Happy New Year,” Santa says, and a missile is fired at his sleigh, causing it to explode in mid-air.
The scene then shifts to a military control room, where Russian soldiers and Ded Moroz (Russia’s version of Santa Claus) are watching the proceedings on a screen as traditional Russian folk songs play.
“Are you finished?” Jed Maros asked a soldier wearing a headset.
“Yes, it’s over. Target destroyed,” the soldier replied.
“Good. We don’t need foreign objects flying over our heads,” Dead Mallows says as he hugs the soldier. “Happy new year!”
The video was released days after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed in western Kazakhstan, reportedly being shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile.
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