Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean, Two Crew Members Missing
A Russian cargo ship, the "Ursa Major," sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, leading to the disappearance of two crew members. The incident occurred after an explosion in the ship's engine room, as confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Out of the 16 crew members on board, 14 were successfully rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena.
The ship had departed from St. Petersburg on December 11, with its intended destination being Vladivostok, Russia. However, there are conflicting reports regarding its purpose, with Ukrainian military intelligence suggesting it was en route to Syria to collect military supplies. The ship was reportedly carrying cranes and spare parts for icebreakers at the time of its sinking.
Ship tracking data indicated that the "Ursa Major" was last seen sending a distress signal at 22:04 GMT on Monday, shortly before it sank. The Russian Foreign Ministry's crisis unit has been actively involved in the rescue efforts, which included assistance from the Spanish navy.
The ship was owned by SK Yug, a company linked to Oboron Logistics, which is associated with the Russian Defense Ministry. Both companies have not commented on the incident, and the search for the missing crew members continues.
