Sunken Russian vessel near Spain may have been attacked with advanced torpedo, CNN reports
Photo: Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major, which sank off the coast of Spain (Russian media)
The Russian vessel Ursa Major, which sank off the coast of Spain, may have been attacked with a Barracuda supercavitating torpedo, CNN reports.
According to the outlet, Spanish investigators are considering the possibility of an external attack following a series of explosions aboard the ship.
CNN reported that a type of torpedo possessed only by the United States, several NATO allies, Russia, and Iran may have been used to breach the vessel’s hull. According to the investigation, a 50-by-50-centimeter hole in the hull could have been caused by the impact of such a torpedo.
According to the outlet, this weapon "fires air ahead of the weapon to reduce the drag of the water", which allows the torpedo to reach an extremely high speed. Some models are reportedly capable of piercing a target’s hull without using an explosive charge.
As a reminder, the Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major sank off the coast of Spain in December 2024 after a series of explosions onboard. The ship departed from St. Petersburg and was officially heading to Vladivostok, although the captain told investigators during questioning that the vessel’s actual final destination may have been North Korea. Two crew members were killed in the incident.
According to CNN, the vessel may have been carrying components for two nuclear reactors, possibly intended for a submarine. After the sinking, the Russian research vessel Yantar remained near the wreck site for several days, and four additional explosions were later recorded in the area.
