A Russian cargo ship reportedly transporting two submarine nuclear reactors, with North Korea as its suspected destination, sank under unexplained circumstances approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Spain. The incident has generated significant international attention, as key questions about the vessel’s cargo and the circumstances of its sinking remain unanswered.
The ship, the Ursa Major, disappeared on December 23, 2024. According to an exclusive CNN report, the incident may be connected to a high-risk military operation carried out by a Western power, with the stated objective of preventing the transfer of Russian nuclear technology to North Korea, a close Russian ally that had already deployed troops to Ukraine.
The mystery deepened further following reports of heightened military activity around the wreck site. According to publicly available data, US nuclear detection aircraft flew over the area twice, while a Russian vessel suspected of espionage visited the location one week after the sinking, sparking a new round of speculation.
The Timeline of the Sinking
Spanish investigators are examining all possible scenarios to explain what caused the Ursa Major to go to the bottom of the Mediterranean. Early indications point to the possible use of a specialized torpedo capable of penetrating the hull without an explosive warhead. The vessel had departed from the port of Ust-Luga on December 11, officially bound for Vladivostok, carrying two “hatch covers,” 129 empty containers and two cranes.
On December 22, after passing through Portuguese waters, the ship slowed abruptly upon entering Spanish territorial waters. The following day, three explosions occurred on the starboard side of the vessel, killing two crew members and forcing the remaining sailors to abandon ship.
Russia’s Intervention
During the rescue operation, the Russian warship Ivan Gren ordered Spanish vessels to keep their distance and demanded the handover of the crew. Despite the persistence of Spanish rescue teams, four additional explosions followed shortly afterward, which were recorded by Spain’s National Seismological Network as underwater detonations. By 11:10 p.m., the Ursa Major had vanished beneath the surface of the Mediterranean.
The ship’s owner, Oboronlogistics, described the incident as a “targeted terrorist attack,” noting that a 50×50 centimeter hole had been found in the hull, with the metal bent inward.
The Captain’s Testimony
Russian captain Igor Anisimov testified to Spanish investigators that the vessel’s “hatch covers” were in fact components of two submarine-type nuclear reactors. He expressed his belief that the ship was intended to divert course toward the North Korean port of Rason, a disclosure that significantly reinforced suspicions about the true destination of the cargo.
Nuclear Traces and International Concerns
The United States dispatched a WC-135R aircraft over the wreck site on two occasions to collect radiation data. While no signs of nuclear leakage were detected, the deployment of such specialized equipment underscored the gravity of the situation.
Analysts have pointed out that if Russia did indeed attempt to transfer nuclear technology to North Korea, it would represent a deeply alarming development with the potential to upend the security balance across both Asia and the Mediterranean.
For now, the secrets of the Ursa Major and the precise contents of its cargo remain buried at a depth of 2,500 meters beneath the surface of the Mediterranean Sea.
