[Ryan Robertson]
A RUSSIAN CARGO SHIP SUSPECTED OF TRANSPORTING MILITARY EQUIPMENT SANK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. THE SHIP, CALLED THE URSA MAJOR, IS TIED TO THE COUNTRY’S DEFENSE MINISTRY, AND SANK AFTER AN EXPLOSION IN ITS ENGINE ROOM.
IT HAPPENED ABOUT 57 MILES OFF THE COAST OF SPAIN, LEAVING TWO CREW MEMBERS MISSING. INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT RUSSIA’S EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN ITS PRESENCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
THE URSA MAJOR OPERATED BY A COMPANY UNDER U.S. SANCTIONS FOR ITS TIES TO RUSSIA’S MILITARY, AND WAS REPORTEDLY ON ITS WAY TO VLADIVOSTOK. IT WAS CARRYING TWO MASSIVE PORT CRANES AND EMPTY CONTAINERS, ACCORDING TO THE CREW. VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWS THE VESSEL LISTING HEAVILY BEFORE SINKING. SPANISH RESCUE CREWS WERE THE FIRST TO RESPOND , BUT A RUSSIAN WARSHIP LATER TOOK OVER OPERATIONS.
UKRAINIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICES ARE RAISING SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE URSA MAJOR’S ACTIVITIES, CLAIMING IT MAY BE INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTING MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM RUSSIA’S BASES IN SYRIA FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF BASHAR AL-ASSAD’S REGIME. RUSSIA ISN’T SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS.
IN A SEPARATE BUT RELATED INCIDENT, ANOTHER RUSSIAN VESSEL, THE SPARTA, REPORTEDLY BROKE DOWN NEAR PORTUGAL. UKRAINE SAYS IT WAS HEADED TO SYRIA TO COLLECT MORE MILITARY EQUIPMENT. THAT SHIP’S CREW REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AND RESUMED ITS JOURNEY.
AND THIS ALL COMES LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER RUSSIA LOST ITS THIRD OIL TANKER IN THE BLACK SEA.
TOGETHER THE INCIDENTS ARE DRAWING ATTENTION TO RUSSIA’S MARITIME ACTIVITIES, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN A MILITARY PRESENCE BEYOND ITS BORDERS.