A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in December 2024 in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room. The ship was carrying parts for two undersea nuclear reactors, reportedly destined for North Korea, as revealed by a Spanish investigation.
The ship sank on December 23 with 16 crew members; 14 were rescued, but two are presumed dead. Initial claims of an engine room explosion were later complicated by the ship’s captain revealing that items labeled “non-hazardous” were, in fact, nuclear reactor components. Investigators suspect the ship may have been intentionally sunk by Western forces using supercavitating torpedoes to thwart Russia’s provision of nuclear technology to North Korea.
Operated by a company linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ursa Major was under U.S. and U.K. sanctions due to its role in supplying military cargos. The sinking occurred shortly after North Korea sent troops to support Russia in Ukraine, raising suspicions of a military technology exchange between the two countries.
In the aftermath, military activity intensified around the wreck site, including the presence of a Russian spy ship. Investigators believe the ship’s true mission was obscured, potentially involving military shipments to Syria, though official narratives shifted toward industrial cargo.
Further reports indicated Russia may have already sent nuclear reactors to North Korea, heightening concerns about North Korea’s nuclear capabilities in light of ongoing sanctions and military ambitions.
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