Russian farmers have pleaded with Vladimir Putin to help deal with an invasion of antelopes that have terrorised crops and water supply in the Saratov region.

The President, already entangled in his attempted invasion of Ukraine, now has another 'invader' to worry about that threatens to hamper his country's food supply.

Around a million , are reported to be in the south-western province, with many crossing into Russia via neighbouring Kazakstan, according to farmers.

Saratov, located along the Volga River and sixth-largest grain-producing region, has been devastated by the Eurasian herbivore which has snacked on the area's annual harvest of roughly four million metric tons, 3.5 per cent of Russia's total grain harvest.

According to appeals posted by local farmers on several Telegram channels, thousands of antelope have also drowned in rivers, contaminating the water supply.

"We hope for your understanding and assistance in resolving this situation, which threatens the very existence of agriculture in our region," the post says.

Culling or hunting saigas has been outlawed in Russia after the animal nearly went extinct in the 1990s.

The population growth of saigas has been hailed as a conservation victory by experts with an estimated four million roaming the country in total, compared to 25,000 30 years ago.

"Their migration area has significantly expanded... no one is asking them for passports," Evgeny Karabanov from Kazakhstan's Grain Union lobby group told Reuters.

Saiga antelope were changed from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened in 2023.

Prominent farms in Saratov have written to Putin complaining that crop losses have gone uninsured due to the animal not being labelled a legal pest.

The Saratov regional Ministry of Agriculture claimed it had commissioned damage assessments and explored other avenues to support farmers financially.