A Russian cargo vessel suspected of transporting nuclear reactor components to North Korea has mysteriously exploded and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 60 miles off the coast of Spain. The ship, identified as the Ursa Major, went down on December 23, 2024, after suffering three explosions on its starboard side, according to a CNN investigation citing Spanish authorities and sources familiar with the probe.
Details of the Incident
The Ursa Major departed from St Petersburg on December 11 with a public manifest listing two large cranes, 129 empty containers, and two oversized items described as "manhole covers." The vessel was officially bound for Vladivostok in Russia's Far East. However, investigators suspect the ship may have been carrying components for two submarine nuclear reactors destined for the North Korean port of Rason.
Spain's government later confirmed that the Russian captain told investigators the cargo included "components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used in submarines." It is reported that the captain initially described the cargo as "manhole covers" before allegedly admitting their true nature under questioning.
Suspicious Circumstances
Investigators reportedly questioned why Russia would transport such limited cargo by sea across the globe when it could have used its own rail network. The ship was escorted through European waters by two Russian military vessels, including the Ivan Gren and the Aleksandr Otrakovsky. Portuguese naval aircraft tracked the convoy before losing contact shortly before the explosions.
The incident occurred just months after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent troops to support Russia's war effort in Ukraine, raising further questions about the nature of the cargo and the timing of the voyage.
This is a breaking news story, and further updates are expected as investigations continue.
