Explosion sinks sanctioned Russian cargo ship off Spain’s coast

Dec 24, 2024

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

A Russian cargo ship tied to the country’s Defense Ministry sank in the Mediterranean Sea following an explosion in its engine room, leaving two crew members missing. The ship, named the Ursa Major, was reportedly on its way to Vladivostok, carrying two large port cranes and empty containers, according to the crew. The incident occurred about 57 miles off the coast of Spain.

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Spanish rescue crews initially responded to the distress signal, rescuing 14 crew members and bringing them to safety in Cartagena. However, a Russian warship later arrived at the scene to take over operations. Video footage released on social media shows the vessel heavily listing before sinking.

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The Ursa Major is operated by a company under U.S. sanctions for its ties to Russia’s military. Ukrainian intelligence has raised suspicions about the ship’s activities, claiming it may have been transporting military equipment from Russian bases in Syria following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime.

These allegations, if true, could point to efforts by Russia to withdraw military assets from the region. Moscow has not yet commented on whether it will withdraw from Syria.

In a related development, another Russian vessel, the Sparta, reportedly broke down near Portugal. Ukrainian officials say it was en route to Syria to collect additional military equipment. The crew repaired the issue, and the ship has since resumed its journey.

The incidents come on the heels of another maritime loss for Russia — its third oil tanker sank in the Black Sea less than a week ago. Together, these events are drawing attention to Russia’s maritime activities, and raising questions about its ability to maintain a military presence beyond its borders.

Tags: Cargo ships, Mediterranean, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Oil, Spain, Syria, Ukraine, Ukraine Defense Ministry

[Ryan Robertson]

A RUSSIAN CARGO SHIP SUSPECTED OF TRANSPORTING MILITARY EQUIPMENT SANK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. THE SHIP, CALLED THE URSA MAJOR, IS TIED TO THE COUNTRY’S DEFENSE MINISTRY, AND SANK AFTER AN EXPLOSION IN ITS ENGINE ROOM.

IT HAPPENED ABOUT 57 MILES OFF THE COAST OF SPAIN, LEAVING TWO CREW MEMBERS MISSING. INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT RUSSIA’S EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN ITS PRESENCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

THE URSA MAJOR OPERATED BY A COMPANY UNDER U.S. SANCTIONS FOR ITS TIES TO RUSSIA’S MILITARY, AND WAS REPORTEDLY ON ITS WAY TO VLADIVOSTOK. IT WAS CARRYING TWO MASSIVE PORT CRANES AND EMPTY CONTAINERS, ACCORDING TO THE CREW. VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWS THE VESSEL LISTING HEAVILY BEFORE SINKING. SPANISH RESCUE CREWS WERE THE FIRST TO RESPOND , BUT A RUSSIAN WARSHIP LATER TOOK OVER OPERATIONS.

UKRAINIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICES ARE RAISING SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE URSA MAJOR’S ACTIVITIES, CLAIMING IT MAY BE INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTING MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM RUSSIA’S BASES IN SYRIA FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF BASHAR AL-ASSAD’S REGIME. RUSSIA ISN’T SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS.

IN A SEPARATE BUT RELATED INCIDENT, ANOTHER RUSSIAN VESSEL, THE SPARTA, REPORTEDLY BROKE DOWN NEAR PORTUGAL. UKRAINE SAYS IT WAS HEADED TO SYRIA TO COLLECT MORE MILITARY EQUIPMENT. THAT SHIP’S CREW REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AND RESUMED ITS JOURNEY.

AND THIS ALL COMES LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER RUSSIA LOST ITS THIRD OIL TANKER IN THE BLACK SEA.

TOGETHER THE INCIDENTS ARE DRAWING ATTENTION TO RUSSIA’S MARITIME ACTIVITIES, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN A MILITARY PRESENCE BEYOND ITS BORDERS.

Explosion sinks sanctioned Russian cargo ship off Spain’s coast

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