Russian calendar featuring beefed up Putin, his security troops outside US Capitol Hill raises alarm

Amid the growing animosities between the United States and Russia, a bizarre Russian desk calendar has attracted the attention of the netizens. The calendar raised many eyebrows since it featured a beefy Russian President Vladimir Putin leading Russian soldiers to attack the US Capitol. According to The New York Post, the calendar comprising this provocative sketch was released by a support group of Russia’s State Security Service (FSB) veterans.

In the images of the calendar that are circulating online, the Russian President can be seen with bulging muscles barely contained by his Z-shirt-with a flag adorning his upper arm. As per the reports, the calendar is designed to raise money for veterans of Putin’s secret service. With a picture of Russian soldiers holding a cat and a child, the FSB attempted to portray these soldiers as strong and benevolent.  

Netizens raise concern

Things became dicey after the calendar’s November artwork depicted the Russian soldier outside the US Capitol while military planes and helicopters circle the building. This particular picture raised concerns among netizens with many theorising that Russia will meddle in the upcoming 2024 US Presidential elections or is planning to attack Ukraine. “Good luck for November 2024, America…” wrote Ian Garner, who studies Russian propaganda. Another user tagged the new US House Speaker Mike Johnson insisting that the Russian President is not ‘America’s friend’. “Hey @SpeakerJohnson Have you seen this FSB calendar?   Putin is not our friend.  Stop playing into his hands. Fund #Ukraine now,” the user wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. According to the Daily Mail, the controversial calendar designed by Moscow illustrator Tatyana Kazantseva went on sale for just $50.