This is the moment two Russian cops let off fireworks by the roadside on New Year’s Eve and one officer is hit in the head and killed.

The incident took place in the south-western Russian region of Krasnodar Krai seconds after seeing in the New Year.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement on 4th January that the injured traffic cop died in hospital.

Police officer Yuri Zinchenko, 35, was hit on the head by a firework while his colleague Sergei Bespaly, 41, reportedly lit them.

According to reports, Bespaly wanted to celebrate the New Year with his colleague and brought along some fireworks to set off at 12am.

As the clocks struck midnight and the national anthem played, the pair set off the fireworks at the side of the road.

However, Zinchenko was struck on the head and was knocked out with a serious injury. The officer died in hospital without ever regaining consciousness, according to reports.

In the footage, two cops are seen standing by the snowy roadside as a nearby church bell strikes midnight and the national anthem is heard playing from a nearby petrol station.

The pair then lets off a large firework in a shower of sparks and one of the cops is heard shouting in desperation.

Hospital doctors battled to save the victim’s life for several days, but in the end he succumbed to his serious head injury.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs said: “Currently, police officers are taking measures to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The investigation is ongoing.