Russia's navy has become embroiled in a fresh international confrontation after a senior commander fired a salvo of insults at German philosopher Immanuel Kant.

Igor Mukhametshin, the Vice Admiral in command of Russia's Baltic Fleet, was filmed telling officers and ratings that the Enlightenment thinker was a "traitor" who wrote "incomprehensible books" and begged for university tenure.

The incident comes amid a bitter row over the international airport in Kaliningrad, the Baltic Fleet's base and Kant's home town.

Great Names of Russia, a nationwide competition, invited residents of dozens of Russian cities vote on a local hero for their airport to be named after.

But the competition in Kaliningrad turned sour after Kant, who lived in the city when it was under Prussian rule and was known as Konigsberg, made it to the finals.