THIS is the moment Vladimir Putin’s desperate troops leapt out of a kamikaze tank right before it blew up.

Shocking footage shows a Russian armoured MT-LB vehicle loaded with explosives headed towards Ukrainian positions in a shameless move.

A Russian soldier is seen diving out of the suicide tank and running for cover after directing the vehicle in the occupied Donetsk region.

But the crude Russia tactic fails as the Soviet-era MT-LB hits a landmine triggering a giant explosion. 

The armoured vehicle had been loaded with two tons of TNT before being directed at the Ukrainian frontline, reported Krymskiy Veter Telegram channel.

“The vehicle ran over an anti-tank mine –  and caused an epic explosion,” reported the news outlet.

The MT-LB is a Soviet-era multi-purpose, fully amphibious tracked armoured vehicle.

Originally built in Soviet Ukraine half a century ago, the museum piece is one of several old crocks Putin had brought back to life due to a shortage of armoured vehicles. 

The chilling tactic is similar to that used by terror group ISIS, such as driving explosives-laden SUVs into Iraqi forces at an army base.

It is not the first time Moscow makes the clumsy move as Putin faces a failing war.

In June, bungling Russian troops sent a tank crammed with six tons of explosives towards a Ukrainian position before detonating it.

Footage showed a Soviet-era T-54 tank packed with explosives rolling towards a Ukrainian trench near Marinka, Donetsk Oblast, guided by a remote control.

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It then hits a land mine before being struck by a Ukrainian rocket – causing it to burst into a raging ball of smoke and fire.

But the tank embarrassingly missed its target, having detonated around 200ft from the Ukrainian troops.

Russian propaganda account “Romanov” claims the 70-year-old tank was stuffed with up to six tons of bombs.

It comes after Putin’s troops also scrambled to stop a surprise Ukraine advance on the east side of the Dnipro river after Moscow admitted losing ground.

Western officials said troops have moved 2.5miles from the river into territory formerly held by the enemy.

Local Russian governor Vladimir Saldo said: “There is justifiable concern about Ukrainian armed forces on the left bank of the Dnipro.”

Western sources said Ukraine had put hundreds of troops and armoured vehicles across the river— the site of the Khakovka dam, destroyed by Russia.

One said: “This gives Ukraine a significant foothold.

“The fact the Russians are unable to push them back from there is encouraging and positive.

“Where Ukraine see opportunity, they will exploit it.”

Saldo admitted it was “more manpower than we can destroy”.

The build-up of Ukrainian forces has forced Russia to pull troops from elsewhere to stop the advance.

Earlier Andriy Yermak, President Zelensky’s chief of staff, said troops had dug in in “against all odds”.