Join the Secret Elves for exclusive news on the year’s best gifts
We have more newsletters
Vladimir Putin has sent Santa Claus on a trip around Ukraine in an armoured vehicle in a cringe-worthy and lacklustre bid to cheer up his failing troops.
The warmonger president has drafted in the Russian Father Christmas – known as Grandfather Frost – in his latest propaganda stunt to try and boost wilting morale among soldiers.
Grandfather Frost, who by Soviet tradition visits kids with gifts at midnight on New Year's Eve, was sent on the festive-less trip in a paradox as families of grief-stricken Russians buried their dead killed in Putin's war in Ukraine.
READ MORE: Vladimir Putin to send in clowns to Ukraine to 'boost Russian troops’ flagging morale
The supposed figure of joy and peace has been spotted riding in a Russian armoured vehicle in the Belgorod region but, let's be candid, a bloke dressed as Santa is seldom going to cheer up a bunch of grown men fighting for their lives in a war they probably never wanted anything to do with.
And, while the tasteless show was being put on by Grandfather Frost, the appalling misery Putin has inflicted on his own people was etched on the faces of grief-stricken relatives as dozens of new names were added to a Russian war memorial.
Mothers and wives weeped as they marked the addition of 60 new names in provincial city Saratov.
Russians calling in to Ukrainian surrender hotline in droves after 100k mates slain
Grieving Russians held tight pictures of their lost sons, fathers and husbands as they were told the lie that the men had died defending their country in a war against NATO – not as a direct result of Putin’s illegal invasion.
Subtitles on a video of the sombre gathering read: “Mothers cannot accept the loss."
“Attendees can barely hold back tears,” another said.
The ceremony was held at the Sokolovaya Mountain in Saratov where there are now a total of 166 lost souls named. Saratov has lost 181 men in total.
“Those whose names are engraved on this memorial are all heroes,” said speaker Dmitry Ayatskov, of the pro-war Combat Brotherhood organisation.
“Our men are accomplishing a feat in Donbas [Ukraine] today… The war is not with the Ukrainians. The war is with NATO.
“This must be clearly understood.
“I am sure that our warriors will win. We have the spirit. We have the will. We have an historical memory. The Russian people cannot be brought to their knees.”
Major Alexander Yanklovich told mourners: “When we opened this monument, we could not imagine that this list would grow with more and more new names.
“No words and monuments will console grief [and] the heaviness in your soul from the losing of your beloved ones.
“Just memory is able to save them in our hearts.”
Meanwhile, in another cringing display, despot Putin has drafted clowns into his conscription – in the hope their slapstick antics will boost his troops’ flagging morale.
The Russian Defence Ministry announced the formation of a frontline creative brigade’ of artists.
The unit will feature musicians, opera singers, actors and circus performers who will put on shows for Putin’s men in a bid to blow away their combat blues.
It comes as Ukraine is bracing itself for the invasion of "millions" of Russians as Putin's invasion of the country intensifies.
Ukrainian Major-General Andrii Kovalchuk revealed the country was anticipating a potential attack on Kyiv in 2023.
He confirmed to Sky News: “We foresee such options, such scenarios. We are preparing for it. We live with the thought that they will attack again. This is our task.”
READ NEXT
- 'UK's biggest threat isn't Mad Vlad but "weak" Germany doing deal with him warns expert
- Russian state TV guest says troops are being 'taken to slaughter like sheep'
- Russian kamikaze drones obliterated by Ukraine after weeks of Putin's bombings
- Amazing transformation of Ukraine POW left skin and bones as football club fund recovery
- Villagers egg penis-headed statue of Russian despot Putin erected in 'Bell End'
- Vladimir Putin
- Christmas
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Russia Ukraine war
Source: Read Full Article
