Russian ship sinks in Mediterranean

Published December 24, 2024 at 11:44 AM

Foreign. The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion in the engine room, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports. According to speculation in Western media, the ship was carrying military equipment.

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The accident occurred in international waters between Spain and Algeria. Fourteen crew members have been rescued, while two are still missing. The survivors have been taken to Cartagena in southeastern Spain.

The ship, which was built in 2009 and is 142 meters long, is suspected of having been loaded with military equipment.

Marine traffic expert and internet profile Hi Sutton tells the Amsterdam-based Moscow Times that the ship was likely on its way to Russia's naval base in Tartus to participate in the dismantling of the Syrian Assad regime after its collapse. According to him, Ursa Major was part of the so-called “Syrian Express”, a supply route for Russian troops in Syria. Officially, the ship was en route from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok. Russian authorities have not commented on the information about military equipment.