Russia suspects a major act of sabotage over the “three explosions” that sank its military cargo ship Ursa Major in the Mediterranean.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but a top kyiv war source warned Vladimir Putin to expect more such acts.
The 466-foot ship sank hours after the explosions. It had passed the Strait of Gibraltar and was between Spain and Algeria.
At that time, there were reports of an explosion in the engine room.
But now the Russian owner of the Ursa Major – Oboronlogistics, closely linked to Vladimir Putin’s Defense Ministry – says that on December 23, “a pre-planned terrorist attack on the ship” was committed.
“Three consecutive explosions occurred to starboard, in the stern area,” the company admitted.
“The ship developed a 25-degree list, a clear sign that water had begun to flood the ship’s compartments.”
The 466-foot ship sank hours after the explosions.
Survivors of the sinking of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major stand on the deck of a Spanish Maritime Rescue ship upon arrival at the port of Cartagena, Spain, December 23, 2024.
A criminal investigation is underway in Russia into alleged sabotage that may have involved explosives prepared on board.
Officially, the ship that had crossed the English Channel was heading to Vladivostok, in the Pacific, through the Suez Canal, but it is suspected that on the way it had to stop in Tartus, in Syria, to embark military cargo while Russia withdraws its armed forces. presence after the fall of ally Bashar al-Assad.
On board the ship were two gantry cranes with a total weight of 686 tons, two crane buckets with a weight of 27 tons, two bilge decks with a total weight of 91 tons, a 20-foot container with spare parts for the decks of two tons and 129 empty containers. containers.
Its loss is a blow to Putin because its cargo included super-heavy cranes and parts of a new nuclear icebreaker, such as 45-ton hatch covers.
Ukrainian war correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko, with 340,000 followers, said ships in Putin’s so-called shadow fleet that evade sanctions and transport military supplies could now be threatened.
“The Russian bulk carrier Ursa Major was probably damaged by three explosions,” his Tsaplienko_Ukraine Fights channel reported.
Images show sailors rescued from the Big Dipper after an incident in the Mediterranean
The Russian ship Ursa Major with a mysterious cargo on board sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria
“If this is true and there was sabotage on board the ship, then the Russian economy could soon suffer a strategic blow due to the fact that its ‘shadow fleet’ suspends its activities.
‘The ship that sank off Spain was involved in the ‘Syrian Express’, a weapons supply system for the Assad regime in Syria.
“If Russian ships continue to transport weapons, oil and grain stolen from Ukraine, then who knows, similar sabotage on other ships in neutral waters is not out of the question.
‘If Russia suddenly wants to guarantee their safety, it will return them to Russian ports for inspection.
“In both cases, the ships will stop bringing crazy money to Russia, so the Kremlin will not spend it on terrorism against Ukrainians.”