This is the moment when a furious mother walrus becomes a terrifying tusk force as she attacks a dingy in Russia’s remote Arctic waters.

The bruising encounter came when a boat was exploring the Franz Josef Land archipelago, which contains some of Russia’s most secret military bases.

Video footage of the attack shows the inflatable dinghy about to be lowered into the sea from a larger boat manned by a Russian crew.

But before it even hits the water, the huge walrus leaps out of the waves and impales the inflatable with her tusks.

Then, as she growls at the men on board, she leaps again and slashes at it for a second time as the dinghy starts to deflate.

Finally, what could be the reason for her aggression appears as her pup jumps up on her back as she swims away.

Many on social media took the opportunity to mock Russia’s top-secret attempts to train marine mammals like dolphins and seals for navy service.

One named as fpop88 said: “All the time Russians spent trying to train navy dolphins, and apparently, Ukraine was investing in battle walruses.”

And Jeffy29 said: “The walrus should have waited until the Russians were on the inflatable boat.”

Then Youth-in-Asia said: “Hoping for combat mosquitoes next.”