COPS have found the body of a woman who was "buried alive" in a forest in Russia with only her head left above the ground.

The victim was left to die a week ago in a forest near St Petersburg, according to local media reports.

Cops said a 36-year-old man discovered the body of the woman.

She was buried seven days ago and it is likely she was alive when she was dug into the ground, Fontanka news reports.

The woman, aged in her forties, was found wearing a tracksuit and had a gold chain in her pocket, cops said.

She has not yet been identified.

Cops said the woman was unable to free herself and she had several "small wounds" on her head.

She was found in a forest between the city of St Petersburg and the suburb of Yuntolovo – home to more than 10,000 people.

Her body was discovered 500 metres from a major highway linking the two areas.

Last month, a healthy dog who was buried alive by cruel owners managed to dig himself out of the grave in northern Russia.

The seven-year-old German Shepherd named Kiryusha was spotted by kind motorist Olga Lystseva, 39, on a highway.

The owners were found and they said they had "put down" the dog claiming he was "unhealthy".

The couple later apologised for their "mistake" in burying the dog alive.

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