A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea following an explosion in its engine room, leaving two crew members missing. The incident occurred as the vessel was reportedly involved in missions related to the evacuation of military equipment from Syria. Fourteen other crew members were rescued safely, as confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations through a Telegram post.
Details of the Incident
The explosion took place while the Ursa Major was navigating between Aguilas, a coastal town in southern Spain, and Oran, a port city in Algeria. A map shared alongside the ministry’s statement pinpointed the vessel’s location at the time of the blast. However, the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, and no official statement has been released about the nature of the incident.
The ill-fated ship, built in 2009, measured 466 feet in length and was owned by SK-YUG LLC, a Russian shipping company under U.S. sanctions. Before the incident, the Ursa Major had departed from St. Petersburg on December 11.
Connections to Syria and Sanctioned Activities
The Ursa Major's sinking comes shortly after another reported malfunction involving the Russian vessel Sparta near Portugal. According to Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the Sparta was tasked with transporting Russian military weapons and equipment from Syria. The crew managed to repair the ship, which later passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. It remains unclear if the Ursa Major and the Sparta are related, but maritime tracking records reveal that the Ursa Major was previously named Sparta III, suggesting potential ties between the vessels.
Russia's military presence in Syria includes two major facilities: the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base, which have been strategic assets in maintaining Russian influence in the Middle East and Africa. The shifting political landscape in Syria following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad has raised questions about the future of these bases and the logistical activities surrounding them.
Investigations and International Attention
Given the Ursa Major’s sanctioned status and its ownership by a company tied to Russian military logistics, the incident has drawn the attention of international observers. Spanish authorities have yet to announce whether they will launch an investigation. The cause of the explosion remains a mystery, adding to the growing concerns over Russia’s maritime activities in the region.
Earlier in December, Ukraine’s GUR had reported that Russia deployed four cargo ships, including the Sparta and Sparta II, to facilitate the evacuation of military equipment from Syria. This broader pattern of activity highlights the ongoing geopolitical complexities tied to Russia's military operations and sanctioned shipping practices.