WARNING, GRAPHIC: Disturbing footage has emerged of the moment a man in Russia tossed a dog at a polar bear as bait in order to distract the aggressive animal from attacking a woman.

The polar bear reportedly lunged at the woman at Cape Schmidt in Chukotka on Russia’s eastern border after she tried to feed it chicken bones, according to witnesses.

View photos The man drags the dog to the edge of the container, as a polar bear reportedly attacks a woman in an alleyway. Photo: YouTube More

The huge animal can be seen hunched over in a small alleyway, supposedly fixated on the victim it dragged into the dark corner.

A man standing on a shipping container nearby can be seen dragging a dog closer to the scene of the attack and picking it up by the back of the neck.

The helpless canine is launched into the air, hitting the ground before somersaulting directly into the path of the bear.

The man’s plan to distract the hunter works, as the polar bear pounces on the dog, swiping at it amidst the poor pup’s cries.

After several seconds, the dog appears to flee and the bear turns its attention straight back to the woman.

A second video released appears to be at the same location and shows a disoriented woman lying on the ground as the polar bear charges at her.

It pounds at her face with its huge claws and drags her body around like a rag doll.

View photos He launches the dog into the air, distracting the polar bear only momentarily before it resumes its attack on the helpless woman. Photo: YouTube More

Onlookers can be heard yelling and screaming, and one person launches a bottle at the bear, which sends it retracting back to the alleyway.

The woman, whose pants are now around her ankles, manages to shuffle to safety.

Animal rights groups have reportedly called for an investigation into the man who threw the dog at the hungry bear.

Local media sources said the woman suffered multiple non-life threatening cuts and bruises and was taken to hospital for treatment.

View photos In a different video, the bear charges and swipes at the woman's face, before dragging her by her leg. Photo: YouTube More

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