Russian cargo ship sinks in mystery explosion; crew rescued
The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea. For years, it served to supply Russian bases in Syria. An explosion was reported in the engine room.
The Russian commercial ship Ursa Major sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria, according to "El Español" and "La Verdad".
According to media reports, the Ursa Major was heading toward the Strait of Gibraltar when an explosion in the engine room caused the ship to veer off course and begin to list.
Two crew members are missing. The remaining 14 people were rescued by the marine rescue services and taken to the Spanish city of Cartagena.
What was on the ship?
The ship was supposed to carry empty containers, as its captain claims. However, as noted by the media, four days before the accident, the company Oboronlogistics - the owner of the ship - announced that the Ursa Major would be sent to the Far East with a "large project cargo as part of the state's task to develop port infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route". Cranes and elements for new icebreakers were loaded onto the ship. The photos of the ship also indicate this.
The company Oboronlogistics is part of the military complex of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Mediazona reported that Ursa Major has for years transported supplies for Russian military forces in Syria. Analysts pointed out that several similar ships have been observed in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days. In their opinion, they could have been involved in the evacuation of Russian bases following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
