Vladimir Putin has mobilised Russia's version of Santa to garner support his failing war in Ukraine as families mourned their dead at a memorial.
Wives, mothers and children were seen weeping as they marked the addition of 60 new names to a Russian war memorial in the provincial city of Saratov, while a cheerful 'Grandfather Frost' visited children in a sick twisted show.
Bereft Russians have been pictured grasping images of their lost sons, fathers and husbands - as they are told the lie that the men died defending their country in a war against NATO, rather than as a direct result of the Kremlin leader’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The emotional grieving ceremony, which was held at the Sokolovaya Mountain in Saratov, now holds a total of 166 names of those killed since February 24.
Subtitles on a video of the sombre gathering acknowledged - in a rare admission - the horror felt by the people in the former Soviet State, due to the despot's decision to go to war.
In the heartbreaking clip, one mum can be heard saying: “Mothers cannot accept the loss."
And another states: "“Attendees can barely hold back tears."
Despite the distressing scenes, in the Belgorod region the Russian Father Christmas was drafted in as the latest propaganda weapon to boost sagging morale among Putin's forces.
Known as Grandfather Frost, who by Soviet tradition visits children with gifts at midnight on New Year’s Eve, the cringing display acts as a distraction on Putin's failing war on neighbouring Ukraine.
Donning a bright red cape and a glowing cane, the figure of joy and peace is disturbingly seen riding around in a Russian armoured vehicle in the western region bordering Ukraine.
Another clip shows Santa sitting in the tank as a he waves by passers by, as a Russian flag stands propped behind him.
Meanwhile, another - even more unsettling video - shows Father Frost carrying a sack of bright red apples towards masked soldiers in a snowy forest.
Standing in a line, wearing balaclavas, the Russian Santa approaches the troops as they all stare at him grinning and nodding their heads.
In all, the Saratov region alone has suffered the loss of 181 men - and such images of torment, seldom revealed by the censored Russian media, are inflicting cities across the country’s 11 time zones.
Speaking at the memorial, Dmitry Ayatskov of the pro-war Combat Brotherhood organisation said: “Those whose names are engraved on this memorial are all heroes.
“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.”
And, Major Alexander Yanklovich, a Hero of Russia, echoed Ayatskov words.
He 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.”
It is the fourth time names of slain Russians have been added to the Saratov war memorial in Victory Park.
