Russian Christmas decorations include bizarre ice sculptures of soldiers and the "Z" symbol

Officials in the Siberian town of Chita have erected a group of eerie ice sculptures of soldiers to encourage New Year's patriotism as Vladimir Putin's war rage

Officials in Chita, a town nestled in the heart of Siberia and 3,000 miles from Moscow, this year discarded Santa Claus in favor of ice sculptures of soldiers in its main square (

Image: Twitter)

A Russian town has erected a group of creepy ice sculptures of soldiers as Vladimir Putin's bloody war in Ukraine unfolds this Christmas.

Holiday comfort and cheer have been replaced by raw Christmas patriotism in the Russian city of Chita, nestled in the heart of Siberia and about 5,000 kilometers from Moscow.

In the city center, the traditional Slavic Grandfather Frost, who plays the same role as Santa Claus in Russia, has been replaced by Putin's twisted pro-war propaganda.

Outside the City Concert Hall, a metal snowman holds a flagpole in his hand as he flies over the Russian tricolor.

Meanwhile, Chita's Lenin Square is adorned with several Christmas trees, but rather than baubles and tinsel, each is decorated with the letter "Z" - a symbol that has become synonymous with the war effort of Russia.

Many locals approved of the city's decision to erect the sculptures (

Picture:

Twitter)

Rather than writing festive letters to Santa Claus, the children of Chita wrote notes to battered soldiers on the front lines, reports the BBC.

But the centerpiece of the warmongering city are the militarized ice-sculpture soldiers - which officials have erected in hopes of bolstering patriotism and support for the war raging in...