A Russian cargo ship believed to be carrying components for two nuclear submarine reactors — possibly destined for North Korea — sank under mysterious circumstances in the Mediterranean after a series of explosions off the coast of Spain, according to a CNN investigation.
The ship, the Ursa Major, sank about 60 miles off the Spanish coast on December 23, 2024, after investigators described several explosions near its engine room.
The new outlet reported that the vessel’s fate remained shrouded in mystery, with military activity surrounding the wreck adding to speculation surrounding the ship’s cargo and destination.
The ship was said to be carrying parts of an undersea reactor
According to the reporter, the Spanish government later confirmed that the Russian captain told investigators that the ship was carrying “components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used in submarines.”
Spanish authorities said the captain was unable to confirm whether the reactor components contained nuclear fuel, according to the report.
The incident comes just months after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly sent troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Suspected military activity after the sinking
CNN reported, citing publicly available flight data, that U.S. military “nuclear sniffer” planes flew over the wreck site twice after the sinking.
The Russian vessel Yantar, widely suspected by Western governments of espionage activities in NATO waters, also reportedly visited the wreckage.
According to the news publication, four more explosions were detected near the wreckage after Yantar arrived at the scene.
Timeline of the sinking
The Ursa Major reportedly sailed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on December 11, officially bound for Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
Its cargo manifest is said to state:
– Two large “hatches”
-129 empty shipping containers
-Two large Liebherr cranes
However, Spanish investigators later concluded that the “doors” were probably part of underwater nuclear reactors.
The vessel was escorted by Russian warships including Ivan Gren and Aleksandr Otrakovsky while traveling through European waters.
Explosions near the engine room killed crew members
According to a CNN report on the Spanish investigation, the ship suddenly slowed down on Dec. 22 while passing through Spanish waters.
About 24 hours later, Ursa Major reportedly issued a distress signal after suffering three explosions on the starboard side near the engine room.
The explosions killed two crew members and left the ship motionless, pitching heavily.
Fourteen surviving crew members were evacuated aboard a lifeboat before being rescued by Spanish authorities.
Other explosions were reported before the sinking
News reports said Spanish rescuers initially believed the vessel was stable and unlikely to sink immediately.
Shortly after the Russian naval vessel Ivan Gren ordered nearby ships to keep their distance, four more explosions reportedly occurred near the site.
Spain’s National Seismic Network later reportedly confirmed that seismic signatures consistent with underwater explosions were detected at the exact time of the reported explosions.
Ursa Major sank later that night.
Possible connection to North Korea
According to CNN, the Spanish investigation was looking into the possibility that the cargo was ultimately destined for the North Korean port of Rason.
Investigators are said to have questioned why Russia would transport seemingly ordinary cargo around the world by sea between two Russian ports instead of using the country’s extensive rail network.
The report suggested that the on-board cranes may have been intended to help unload sensitive cargo upon arrival in North Korea.
The report went on to say that investigators believed the reactors may have been the VM-4SG models commonly used in Russia’s Delta IV-class nuclear submarines.
“Targeted terrorist attack” he claims
Four days after the wreck, the ship’s owner, Oboronlogistics, described the incident as a “targeted terrorist attack,” according to the source.
The company claimed that investigators found a 50 x 50 cm hole in the ship’s hull and metal fragments indicated an external impact.
Spanish lawmakers question the official silence
Spanish lawmaker Juan Antonio Rojas Manrique questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the case.
Rojas also expressed doubts about official claims that retrieving the ship’s black box from a depth of around 2,500 meters would be too difficult.
US nuclear surveillance flights deepen mystery
The news site reported that a rare US Air Force WC-135R “Constant Phoenix” aircraft – normally used to detect radioactive material and nuclear activity – conducted surveillance flights over the wreckage area on August 28 and February 6.
The aircraft are usually deployed to monitor nuclear activity in areas such as the Russian Arctic or around Iran.
Spanish authorities have given no public information that radioactive contamination has been detected near the Mediterranean coast.
The investigation is looking into a possible torpedo hit
Spanish investigators are also looking into whether the initial damage to Ursa Major could have been caused by a supercavitation torpedo, according to CNN.
The investigation reportedly indicated that the hole in the ship’s hull corresponded to a Barracuda-type high-velocity torpedo capable of penetrating hulls without the traditional detonation of an explosive.
CNN reported that investigators believe such a weapon could explain the sudden inexplicable deceleration of the craft before the later explosions occurred.
Only a handful of countries — including the United States, Russia, Iran and some NATO allies — are believed to possess such advanced torpedo systems.
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