Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in Mediterranean, Terrorist Attack Suspected

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday, with Russian state shipping company Oboronlogistics attributing the incident to a “targeted terrorist attack.” The freighter went down in waters between Spain and Algeria, leaving 14 crew members rescued and two still unaccounted for.

Initial reports indicated an explosion in the engine room, causing the vessel to list sharply to starboard. However, Oboronlogistics stated on Wednesday that “three successive explosions” were reported by surviving crew members, suggesting a deliberate act of sabotage.

Built in 2009, the 142-meter-long Ursa Major was among Russia's largest cargo vessels. Operated by SK-Yug, a subsidiary of Oboronlogistics, which is part of the Russian Defense Ministry, the ship was en route from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. It was transporting specialized equipment for port and ship construction and was carrying empty containers at the time of the incident.

The Ursa Major departed on December 11 and was scheduled to arrive in Vladivostok by January 22. The ship had undergone regular maintenance in the summer of 2024.

While Oboronlogistics refrained from identifying any specific perpetrator, Ukraine has previously claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Russian vessels in the Black Sea.

Spanish media reported that the ship sent out a distress signal while transiting the Strait of Gibraltar. Fishing vessels were the first to respond, followed by Spanish Navy and coast guard ships Clara Campoamor and Serviola. The 14 rescued crew members were transported to the port of Cartagena for further assistance.

The sinking of Ursa Major underscores escalating risks to maritime security in the region, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the alleged attack.