Russian state news channel Russia Today recently inked a multi-million dollar deal to have their English-language news service aired on Time Warner cable.

Russia Today, which has extremely close ties to the Kremlin, has been embarking on some publicity stunts to increase their viewership in New York.

Which is why, we suppose, they're going to flood Times Square with Russian Santas on Sunday in advance of the Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7. A bus containing 100 costumed Grandfather Frosts (aka Russian Santas) will be stopping in Times Square from 1pm-2pm to take pictures with the usual Times Square tourist n' kiddies crowd.

Hell, it's a better idea than those Stalin ads Russia Today was doing before.

Photos of the Russian Santa Bus from its last Times Square run after the jump, courtesy of Russia Today.