In a provocative and bizarre pre-Christmas broadcast, the Kremlin-aligned media outlet Russia Today (RT) has aired a satirical television advert mocking European leaders, British broadcaster Piers Morgan, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A Surreal Festive Message from the Kremlin
The controversial advert, which aired on 23 December 2025, uses a repetitive, rhyming structure to sarcastically suggest that a host of Europe's problems are unfairly blamed on Russian President Vladimir Putin. It opens with scenes of a migrant in a tent sharpening a blade, accompanied by the line: 'Migrants settled by your Christmas tree? It’s all because of Putin, see.'
The advert then tackles rising energy costs and food prices with the verses: 'Power bills too high to pay? It’s all because of Putin, hey. Festive meal price feels like a scam? It’s all because of Putin, damn.'
It features what appears to be an AI-generated version of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with a children's choir singing: 'Bureaucrats are on your back? It’s all because of Putin – wack!' The video also includes a mocked-up image of Volodymyr Zelensky dressed in a blue Santa Claus suit, stealing presents while stating: 'It’s all because of Putin, dear.'
The surreal broadcast concludes with a family watching television, where news hosts including CNN's Anderson Cooper and TalkTV's Piers Morgan tell them, 'It’s all because of Putin.' The final message declares: 'Dear Europeans, save your blind faith for Santa.'
Propaganda Push Amid Damning Sabotage Allegations
Analysts view the advert as a direct effort by the Russian state media apparatus to deflect blame and halt conversation over Putin's responsibility for numerous crises affecting the continent. Its broadcast timing is particularly striking, coming just days after the publication of a major investigation into Russian-linked sabotage across Europe.
That investigation documented 145 separate acts of sabotage on the European continent, confirming Russian involvement in a covert 'hybrid war'. The acts, which have increased in frequency and severity since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, include:
- Explosives placed on railway tracks.
- Exploding parcels sent via courier services like DHL.
- Deliberately set warehouse fires.
Despite the evidence, the Kremlin continues to deny any involvement. A senior European intelligence official told the Associated Press that countering this threat is now a '24/7 operation between all the services.'
Experts Warn of an Unacknowledged War
The findings follow a recent warning from the new head of MI6 that the front line with Russia is 'everywhere'. Samantha de Bendern, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Programme, told Metro that these covert acts of sabotage should be classified as terrorism.
'Russia is at war with us. We just don’t know it,' de Bendern argued. 'I think people will only wake up to this threat when a missile falls on a European capital or European city.'
The juxtaposition of RT's glib, mocking Christmas advert with the stark reality of a documented campaign of continental sabotage highlights the deepening information and security war between Russia and the West. While one front involves AI-generated caricatures and satirical jingles, the other involves real-world explosions and arson, creating a complex and dangerous challenge for European security services.
