A cook at a military base construction site in the Arctic has been accused of the torturous animal cruelty.

The female bear was being fed by the male cook, so regularly appeared at the site on remote Wrangel Island in Russia, where Vladimir Putin is establishing a military presence.

The bear had a cub, which she often brought with her to be fed, although not on this occasion, and the young bear is now orphaned.

But this time the endangered animal ate an explosive, which is thought to have been given by the chef.