Vlad tidings we bring! Russia’s National Guard wears Santa costumes and has assault rifles when they take young cadets through military manoeuvres across Siberia.

  • On Friday, Putin’s military personnel wore Grandfather Frost costumes to a training exercise in Kemerovo.
  • Grandfather Frost is also known as Ded moroz in Russian. His roots lie in Slavic mythology. 
  • National Guard has the mission to defend Russia’s borders, manage gun control, and fight terrorism.

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Santa’s ability to point an assault rifle at children in the snow can be enough to scare them, but those on the naughty lists have nothing to worry about.

These are actually images of members of Russian National Guard who put police cadet student through their paces during Christmas Eve in Siberia’s Kemerovo Wilds.

For the sake of keeping things festive, Vladimir Putin’s inner military forces wore Grandfather Frost costumes.

Grandfather Frost, also known as Ded Moroz in Russian, is an anthropomorphic figure that looks a lot like Santa Claus. His roots are in Slavic mythology. He’s usually seen wearing red, but he can also be found in blue.

The cadet maneuvers were a mix of both the blue and the white uniforms. However, the young soldiers raced through the snow wearing khaki uniforms. 

Anyone got the slay bells? Russia's National Guard put police cadet students through their paces on Christmas Eve in the wilds of Kemerovo, Siberia

Did anyone get the slay bells, Russia’s National Guard ran police cadet students through the paces during Christmas Eve in Siberia, Kemerovo.

Santa Claus is gunning to town: To keep things 'festive', Vladimir Putin's internal military force wore Grandfather Frost costumes

Santa Claus is gunning to town: To keep things ‘festive’, Vladimir Putin’s internal military force wore Grandfather Frost costumes

Gung-ho ho ho! Grandfather Frost - known in Russian as Ded Moroz - is a figure similar to Santa, whose roots lie in Slavic mythology. He is usually dressed in red but is also sometimes seen in a blue costume

Gung-ho ho ho! Grandfather Frost (also known in Russian as Ded Moloz) is similar to Santa Claus, but his roots lay in Slavic mythology. He usually wears a red costume, although he is sometimes seen wearing a blue one.

Someone's getting the (Santa) sack if they mess up: During the cadet manoeuvres, troops wore both blue and red outfits, while their young charges raced around the snow in khaki uniforms

Someone’s getting the (Santa) sack if they mess up: During the cadet manoeuvres, troops wore both blue and red outfits, while their young charges raced around the snow in khaki uniforms

'Twas the fight before Christmas: The National Guard is tasked with securing Russia's borders, taking charge of gun control and combating terrorism

‘Twas the fight before Christmas: The National Guard is tasked with securing Russia’s borders, taking charge of gun control and combating terrorism

Santa's gulag: The Russian troops and older students used genuine weapons while the younger ones wielded fake guns

Santa’s Gulag: Russian soldiers and students had real weapons, while younger people used fake guns

The National Guard is tasked with securing Russia’s borders, taking charge of gun control and combating terrorism.

During training, both the veterans and the students older than them used real guns while those younger were trained with fake weapons. 

Kemerovo, which is approximately 4,300km (2.670 miles) away from the east side of Ukraine, is where tensions have been building over Russia’s military buildup near its border. 

According to the Kremlin, it is expecting that the United States will reply next month to Moscow’s request for security measures to stop NATO expansion into Ukraine.

Putin called on the West Thursday to immediately respond to Russia’s demands, accusing America and its allies with maintaining a military presence at ‘the threshold of our home.

Moscow last week submitted security documents requesting that NATO withdraw its membership of Ukraine and other ex-Soviet countries, and stop military deployments to Central and Eastern Europe. 

Tyred yet? The youngsters got into the festive spirit while dashing through the snow

Have you been tripped yet? As they sprinted through the snow, the children got in the holiday spirit

Open fire? Kemerovo lies roughly 4,300km (2,670 miles) to the east of Ukraine, where tensions are mounting over Russia's build-up of soldiers near the border

Is it safe to open fire? Kemerovo is located approximately 4,300km (2.670 miles) east of Ukraine. Tensions are increasing over Russia’s increase in soldiers close to the border.

Military exercises: The students watched on as Putin's forces put on their display of strength

Military exercises: Students watched Putin’s troops display their strength while they performed.

All present... and correct: A participant dressed as Father Frost trudges through the snow during the holiday season event

Everyone present. And correct. A participant dressed up as Father Frost walks through the snow during the Holiday Season event

Dmitry Peskov of the Kremlin stated during Friday’s conference with journalists that he expected Washington’s opponents to respond to his proposals for de-escalation.

Moscow made its request amid rising tensions about a Russian troop buildup in Ukraine, which has raised fears of an invasion. 

In a video conference, Joe Biden from the United States warned Putin earlier in this month that Russia would face “severe consequences” if it attacked Ukraine.

Russia denied any plans to strike, however it has called for NATO expansion in Ukraine and weapons deployment there a’redline’. 

U.S. President Joe Biden warned Putin in a video call earlier this month that Russia will face 'severe consequences' if it attacks Ukraine

The U.S. President Joe Biden told Putin earlier in the month via video that Russia could face severe consequences if they attack Ukraine

Moscow has for weeks been massing tens of thousands of troops, tanks and artillery pieces along its eastern flank, sparking fears of an invasion, though the Kremlin has insisted it is merely a defence force (pictured, Russian forces currently massed in border regions)

Moscow is currently massing thousands of soldiers, tanks, and artillery pieces on its eastern flank for several weeks. This has sparked fears about an invasion. However, the Kremlin insists it’s a defense force. (pictured: Russian forces are currently positioned in border areas).

Russian troops engaged in a frenzy of 'exercises' on the Ukrainian border hours after Vladimir Putin told US and NATO to 'go to hell', stoking fears of an invasion

Russian troops were engaged in an escalating ‘exercise’ at the Ukrainian border, hours after Vladimir Putin instructed NATO and US to ‘go into hell’. This stoked fears of invasion

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