0
8
Two costumed Santas were involved in an ugly fight in the Ukrainian city of Odessa.
Police are investigating the street punch-up which left children in tears.
Video shows the brawl between competing Father Christmases - known as Did Moroz or Grandfather Frost in Ukraine - as they trade blows.
The battle began when a small girl posed with the older Santa under the Christmas tree in Derybasivska Street, say witnesses.
At this moment a second younger Santa approached ordering his competitor to 'leave at once', say reports.
The older Santa - real name Timur, in his 50s and with a background in martial arts - decided to fight.
The girl, her mother and other bystanders looked on in horror as the Santas threw fists while also swearing at each other with four-letter expletives in earshot of children.
The younger Santa - named Mustafa, 20 - stripped off of his red outfit so he could more easily throw punches at his foe.
Locals, some carrying children, tried to intervene to bring peace between the bearded brawlers led by a woman dressed as Snihuronka - or Snow Maiden - who by tradition accompanies Grandfather Frost.
However they failed to halt the furious fight between the warring Santas as Odessa lost its Christmas spirit.
A witness said: 'Women were shouting, children were crying, the Snow Maiden jumped around with a doom-laden face.
'Foreign tourists watched with curiosity, thinking that it is some seasonal performance in Ukraine.'
Police later arrived and are investigating the disturbing evening incident.
Some witnesses said the incident had started when the girl preferred to pose with the older Santa, then asked the other one to take a picture of her.
Reports also say that when police arrived the young Santa claimed he was aged 15 to avoid any criminal responsibility.
However, law enforcement confirmed he was 20.
A local source said: 'There is good money to be made for Santas posing under the tree with passing children at this time of year.
'This looks like a mafia dispute over territory between the fighting Frosts, and as a result they have destroyed the seasonal magic for the children who saw this.'
In Ukraine, like Russia, Santa gives presents to children at midnight on New Year's Eve in a tradition dating to the Stalin era.