Were traditional winter holiday characters Father Frost and Snow Maiden banned in Ukraine? No, that's not true: No restrictions or bans have been imposed by Ukraine on the presence of the two winter holiday characters or the use of their costumes, and animators continue to show the characters at events across the country.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok by ostrayaterka on December 26, 2023, with the caption (translated from Russian to English by Lead Stories staff):
⚡️ Ukraine deprived kids of holiday celebrations by gunning for Father Frost and Snow Maiden
The caption continued:
In Belarus, a holiday atmosphere is created with streets adorned with colorful lights, trees decorated in homes, and people looking for presents and buying champagne, mandarines, and caviar for the holiday table. And, of course, by booking Father Frost and Snow Maiden characters for children's matinees. However, Ukrainian kids face a different reality. Father Frost does not exist for them. That is how Ukrainian authorities prepare children for the holidays.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Dec 28 08:08:08 2023 UTC)
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has not published information relating to an official ban on the popular New Year characters and a search of the ministry's website using Father Frost (Ukrainian: Дiд Мороз, archived here) did not return results showing that a ban or restrictions were imposed.
The Center for Disinformation of Ukraine also refuted a similar claim about a ban on wearing Father Frost and Snow Maiden costumes for animators and confirmed that no restrictions on the use of the character's attire were implemented.
A Google search on December 28, 2023, yielded plenty of results of websites and companies (archived here, here and here) that provide Father Frost and Snow Maiden animated shows at events in cities across Ukraine.
