Official reports from search and rescue operations or announcements from Spanish or Russian authorities

Sanctioned Russian Ship Ursa Major Sinks Off Spain After Explosion; 14 Rescued, 2 Missing

Dec 24, 2024, 08:30 AM

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room on December 23, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. Fourteen of the sixteen crew members were rescued by Spanish authorities, including the Navy vessels Clara Campoamor and Serviola, while two remain missing. The vessel, formerly known as Sparta III and under U.S. sanctions since 2022 for transporting military equipment to Syria, was owned by Oboronlogistics—a subsidiary linked to Russia's Defense Ministry. It was reportedly en route from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, carrying two 45-ton hatches for a nuclear icebreaker reactor and two Liebherr port cranes. Some reports suggest the ship had been involved in evacuating strategic assets from Syria. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.