Russian ship sinks in Mediterranean: 'explosion on its way to Syria' (Ukrainian intelligence)
On Monday evening, the Ursa Major, a Russian military cargo ship, sank in the Mediterranean Sea.
The ship, which Ukrainian intelligence sources say was supposedly en route to Syria to pick up military equipment, ran into trouble in the waters between Spain and Algeria after an explosion on board. Thereupon, the ship sank. Fourteen of the 16 crew members were able to be rescued and were taken to Cartagena, Spain, the ministry said in a statement. Two people are still missing. The explosion occurred in the engine room. The operator and owner of the Ursa Major is SK-Yug, a company that is part of Oboronlogistics. According to tracking data, the cargo ship departed from the Russian port city of St. Petersburg on Dec. 11 and was last sighted when it last transmitted a signal around 11 p.m. Monday evening (local Spanish time).
The ship, according to tracking data, had previously been docked in the Syrian port of Tartous, making it seem plausible that the ship was again en route to Syria to contribute to the Russian military withdrawal. However, that report could not yet be independently verified.
(SR for Tagtik/Source: Reuters - Kyiv Independent/Illustration picture: Photo by Jude Mack on Unsplash)
Spanish media reporting that the Ursa Major has sunk after an explosion in the engine room earlier today, which caused a list.
— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) December 23, 2024
14 out of 16 crew members were rescued with 2 still missing. pic.twitter.com/5JULZv6dSB