CARTAGENA, Spain — A Russian heavy-lift cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Spain's southeastern coast on Dec. 23, 2024, after a series of explosions that Russian authorities labeled an act of terrorism. The sinking of the Ursa Major, a vessel linked to Russia's Defense Ministry and operating in the so-called shadow fleet, has fueled international intrigue, with new Spanish investigative details suggesting it may have been carrying undeclared nuclear reactor components destined for North Korea.

The 9,490-deadweight-ton ship, built in 2009 and owned by Oboronlogistika, was en route from St. Petersburg toward Vladivostok when it suffered catastrophic damage approximately 57-60 nautical miles off Almería, between Spain and Algeria. Spain's maritime rescue service received a distress signal around midday, reporting the vessel listing heavily to starboard. Video footage captured the ship's dramatic tilt before it went down overnight.

Fourteen of the 16 crew members were rescued by Spanish fishing vessels, the patrol boat Serviola and the rescue ship Clara Campoamor, and taken to Cartagena. Two crew members remain missing. Russian officials initially attributed the incident to an engine room explosion, but the ship's owner later reported three distinct blasts on the starboard side.

Cargo Controversy and Nuclear Allegations

What the Ursa Major was actually transporting has become the focal point of speculation. The crew........

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