The bear fights to free itself after being hit by the car eight times, according to the men's conversation on the video. Picture hee and below: Youtube

Police have launched a criminal probe against men who trapped a bear under one vehicle, before kicking it, and threatening to knife and rape the beast. The shocking video - filmed on her cell phone by a woman in a second SUV - shows the bear trapped by the Pajero, its paws caught under a wheel.

The bear fights to free itself after being hit by the car eight times, according to the men's conversation on the video. Two men get out of the Pajero - one is called Artyom who kicks the bear and stands on its back. They get in the car, and then out again to kick it more.

Two men get out of the Pajero - one is called Artyom who kicks the bear and stands on its back. They get in the car, and then out again to kick it more.

Then these men come to SUV in which the woman is filming. In a lewd conversation, Artyom asks for a knife to kill the bear or stick to rape it with. The bear suddenly manages to break free, and violently tears the tyre of the Pajero before rushing at the other SUV. The woman stops filming and cries as she fears the bear will kill them.

One of the men says: 'I have only small knife, he will be f***** up poking it.' The woman gets worried as the bear starts to free itself.

'He will move now and the bear will release and kill us all,' she says. Artyom repeats his desire to 'kill' or 'slaughter' the bear.

'Please do not do it before my eyes,' says another man.

The bear almost breaks free, and has its back side to the people in the car. 'Go put a stick in his ***, man, go put a stick right in his ***'

The bear almost breaks free, and has its back side to the people in the car.

'Go put a stick in his ***, man, go put a stick right in his ***,' said the second man. 'Go **** him', he says.

As soon as the bear breaks free, it destroys the tyre on the Pajero and lunges towards the other car. The woman screams and the men say 'go', suddenly realising the danger they are in.

As soon as the bear breaks free, it destroys the tyre on the Pajero and lunges towards the other car. The woman screams and the men say 'go', suddenly realising the danger they are in.

The woman yells: 'Tyoma (Artyom), please go! Oh my God!' They escape, leaving the Pajero at the scene.

The incident was on Iturup island in the Far East of Russia. Police launched a criminal case of 'cruelty to animals' and they will be investigated over whether the attack involved 'hooliganism' or 'sadistic methods'.

They face a jail term of up to six months, or 'corrective labour' or a fine. They also face punishment for driving in a water protection zone when the attack happened.