A Russian-flagged cargo ship, the Ursa Major, sinks off Spain’s southeast coast after a series of explosions, according to multiple reports. The vessel goes down on 23 December 2024, about 60–62 nautical miles off the coast near Murcia. Reports say investigators describe multiple blasts occurring near the ship’s engine room before the vessel went down.
Details about the ship’s route and ownership also appear across coverage. The Ursa Major is described as a 142-metre-long vessel associated with the state-linked Oboronlogistics company and reported to have been sailing from St Petersburg to Vladivostok. While some reporting focuses on the explosions and sinking itself, other outlets also report claims that the ship may have been carrying components related to nuclear submarine reactors, with a possible destination of North Korea.
One report says Western military action may have been involved, while others describe the circumstances as “mysterious” and note that the information is based on reports rather than confirmed findings. The accounts align on the timing and location of the sinking and on the occurrence of blasts aboard the ship.
