Russian Ship Sunk Near Spain Suspected of Carrying Nuclear Reactors

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Russian cargo ship that mysteriously sank off the southeastern coast of Spain in December 2024 may have been secretly transporting nuclear submarine reactor components intended for North Korea, according to recent investigative reports.

The vessel, identified as the Ursa Major, was a 142-meter Russian-flagged cargo ship owned by the state-linked logistics company Oboronlogistics. The ship reportedly departed from St. Petersburg and was officially heading toward Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East before sinking approximately 62 nautical miles off the coast of Murcia, Spain, on December 23, 2024.

According to The Guardian, the ship issued a distress signal at around 12:53 p.m. local time after suffering a series of explosions in its engine room. Spanish maritime rescue agency Sasemar dispatched emergency response teams, including a helicopter, rescue vessels, and a tugboat, after nearby ships reported that the vessel was listing heavily and its crew was abandoning ship.

Crew members later told rescuers that three explosions had occurred onboard. Two people were believed to have died during the incident, while 14 others were rescued.

Spanish rescue efforts were interrupted later that evening after a Russian warship arrived at the scene and ordered Spanish rescue vessels to withdraw to a distance of two nautical miles. A Spanish government document later revealed that the Russian naval vessel launched flares above the sinking ship, an action reportedly believed to interfere with infrared surveillance satellites monitoring the area.

Shortly after the flares were deployed, investigators detected several seismic signatures resembling underwater explosions. By 11:20 p.m., the Ursa Major had completely sunk into waters approximately 2,500 meters deep.

Although the ship’s cargo was officially declared as “non-dangerous merchandise,” including shipping containers, cranes, and industrial maintenance covers, Spanish authorities became suspicious due to the vessel’s unusual route and undeclared cargo.

Investigators later stated that the ship’s captain admitted the large “maintenance covers” onboard were actually nuclear reactor components similar to those used in submarines, though he claimed no nuclear fuel was being transported.

Satellite imagery reportedly showed two massive blue containers weighing around 65 tons each positioned near the stern of the vessel. Investigators questioned why such cargo would be transported by sea across a 15,000-kilometer route unless it carried strategic significance.

A source familiar with the investigation told CNN that the Russian captain believed the ship could eventually be redirected to the North Korean port of Rason to deliver the reactor components.

The sinking has fueled speculation that the vessel may have been targeted to prevent sensitive nuclear technology from reaching Pyongyang.

Investigators reportedly found a 50-centimeter hole in the ship’s hull with metal bent inward, leading to theories that the damage may have been caused by a supercavitating torpedo, a high-speed underwater weapon believed to be possessed only by a handful of countries, including the United States, Russia, Iran, and some NATO members.

Meanwhile, Russia launched an extensive maritime operation shortly after the sinking.

WION reported that Moscow first deployed the Russian landing ship Ivan Gren to secure the area surrounding the wreckage before sending the Yantar, one of Russia’s most secretive deep-sea surveillance vessels.

Officially classified as an oceanographic research ship, the Yantar is widely regarded by Western intelligence agencies as a specialized espionage vessel equipped with deep-submergence vehicles capable of underwater salvage operations and fiber-optic cable surveillance.

The deployment of the Yantar reportedly signaled Moscow’s urgency in reaching the wreck before European investigators could recover or inspect the cargo.

According to the report, the vessel’s mission was likely aimed at recovering or destroying sensitive materials linked to the alleged nuclear shipment.

The presence of Russian military assets near the wreckage has since transformed the incident from a maritime disaster into a broader geopolitical confrontation involving allegations of covert arms transfers, underwater sabotage, and nuclear proliferation.

Russia has denied wrongdoing. Oboronlogistics previously claimed the Ursa Major became the victim of what it described as a “targeted terrorist attack.”

The Kremlin has not officially confirmed allegations that the ship was transporting nuclear reactor technology to North Korea.

Read: EU, UK Sanction Russia Over Alleged Ukrainian Child Abductions

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

EU, UK Sanction Russia Over Alleged Ukrainian Child Abductions

8 jam lalu

Ukraine: Russia Breaks Ceasefire Overnight, Zelenskyy Says

10 jam lalu

Indonesia, Russia Accelerate Industrial Cooperation

1 hari lalu

Greek Minister Says Mystery Drone from a 'Foreign State'

3 hari lalu

Putin Says He Thinks Ukraine War is 'Coming to an End'

3 hari lalu

Trump Announces 3-Day Ceasefire Between Ukraine and Russia

4 hari lalu

How Real Is Coup Threat Against Russia's President?

4 hari lalu

Russia Warns UN Security Council Resolution Could Escalate Middle East Tensions

4 hari lalu

Russia Urges Foreign Diplomatic Missions to Flee Kyiv

5 hari lalu

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Breaking Unilateral Ceasefire

6 hari lalu