A Russian spacecraft has crashed into the Moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit, Russia's national space agency Roskosmos says.

Roskosmos said it had lost contact with the craft shortly after a problem occurred as the craft was shunted into pre-landing orbit.

"The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the Moon," Roskosmos said in a statement.

The spacecraft was scheduled to land on the south pole of the Moon on Monday.

The crash follows a technical glitch the rocket experienced as it was preparing to transfer to its pre-landing orbit on Saturday.

The spacecraft was sent to explore a part of the Moon scientists think may hold frozen water and precious elements.