A Russian cargo vessel named Ursa Major has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast between Spain and Algeria. The ship is indirectly owned by the Russian Ministry of Defence and as per some reports, it used to carry military equipment to and from Syria.
The ship was reportedly en route to Vladivostok. Earlier videos had shown it heavily listing to one side, following an alleged blast in the engine room.
Russian ship Ursa Major, typically accompanied by the Russian navy and known to transport military equipment sank following a reported explosion in the engine room in the Mediterranean Sea.
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) December 24, 2024
2 sailors died, 14 were rescued. https://t.co/P1FGzKK6Ud pic.twitter.com/OUpQ6l77w1
Of the 16 crew members, 14 were rescued and are currently in Spain. 2 are still ‘missing’.
The ship was owned by Oboronlogistika, a construction company under the Russian Ministry of Defence. The ship was seen travelling with two giant port cranes lashed onto its deck.
The company Oboronlogistika and the ship itself were under sanction by the US government after the Ukraine war started in February 2022.
