Holidaymakers near the Russian port city of Kaliningrad were startled yesterday when a giant military hovercraft landed in their midst on a beach in Mechnikovo.

Video of the incident posted on the internet shows beachgoers marveling at the sight of the Zubr-class hovercraft as it lands on the beach.

Purported to be the world’s largest vessel in its class the Zubr (Bison) vessel weighs some 550 tonnes, carries sophisticated weapons systems and is capable of carrying tanks and up to 400 troops.

Also in the service of the Greek navy, it was the first Russian-build ship to be sold to a Nato country.

Russian news website vz.ru quoted an official at the Russian defence ministry as saying the vessel was participating in maneuvers on a government-owned beach.