Russian vessel Ursa Major sinks in Mediterranean after explosion
Illustrative photo: The military vessel Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion (Getty Images)
The Russian vessel Ursa Major, carrying strategic cargo, sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion in the engine room, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind reports.
Tracking services indicated that the ship stopped at approximately 8:25 p.m. Moscow time (7:25 p.m. Kyiv time). The Spanish rescue ship SALVAMAR DRACO SAR responded immediately, but after the explosion, Ursa Major's AIS system ceased functioning.
The ship reportedly sank around midnight. The vessel CLARA CAMPOAMOR was dispatched to the site of the incident to collect spilled petroleum products.
The crew of Ursa Major was evacuated to the port of Cartagena, Spain.
According to Crimean Wind, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence had earlier reported technical issues aboard the vessel, including malfunctioning the main fuel line.
While there were speculations that the ship was headed to Syria to evacuate Russian equipment, it was later revealed that its destination was Vladivostok.
A monitoring group stated that the vessel carried strategic cargo - two 45-ton reactor lids for the nuclear icebreaker project 10510 "Lider".
Photos showed these components covered with blue tarpaulin. Their loss could significantly delay the icebreaker's construction.
Photo: monitoring images (t.me Crimeanwind)
Earlier, a Russian oil tanker suffered an accident in the Black Sea.
As previously reported, the smoke was observed in the Russian port of Tuapse after explosions on the night of November 29.
