Propaganda posters mocking two of Finland's and Sweden's most popular children's characters have been recently spotted on the streets of Moscow, Russia.

The posters show an illustration of Uncle Sam, representing the United States, holding two puppets - Moominpappa and Pippi Longstocking.

The now-iconic characters were created in the mid 1900s by Finnish artist and author Tove Jansson and Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren.

The poster's text, in Russian, warns: "Don't be toys in the wrong hands!"

Below the illustration appears to be a quote from Jansson's sixth children's book, Tales from Moominvalley.

The poster's message ostensibly refers to claims by some in Russia that Finland and Sweden would become puppets of the United States after the two Nordic countries join Nato.

The Russian association Our Victory was listed as the sponsor behind the posters, the same group that organised a similar campaign last May.

That propaganda poster, also seen as official street adverts in the Russian capital, suggested that Lindgren, along with Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman and Ikea's founder Ingvar Kamprad were Nazis.