Images released by the authorities of Belgorod, a city on the border with Ukraine shelled on several occasions last fall, show Ded Moroz, Russia's equivalent of Santa Claus, driving around in a armoured vehicle and interacting with people in Russian army uniforms in a forest.
While for Ukraine, the country also marked dim celebrations with Christmas tree decorated with doves, which is considered a peace symbol.
Meanwhile, on the warfront a fresh barrage of Russian strikes battered Ukraine on Thursday, wounding at least three people including a teenager in Kyiv and cutting electricity in the west.
Also watch: Russia fires more than 120 missiles into Ukraine, casualties reported
On Thursday morning, blasts were reported across the vast country including in the Ukrainian capital, the second city Kharkiv in the east and the western city of Lviv on the border with Poland.
Most of Lviv, where Russian strikes are still rare, was left without electricity, its mayor Andriy Sadoviy said.
(With agency inputs)