Suspicion of Terrorism Surrounds the Sinking of Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major in Mediterranean
A Russian cargo ship, the Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, raising alarms about potential foul play. The ship, which belonged to Oboronlogistika, a company connected to the Russian defense ministry, was reportedly targeted by an act of terrorism, according to the vessel's owner. The ship sank while traversing international waters between Spain and Algeria, leaving two crew members unaccounted for.
Oboronlogistika claimed that the vessel was hit by three explosions on its starboard side, forcing it to sink. Despite labeling the incident as terrorism, the company did not specify who might be responsible for these apparent attacks. The Ursa Major, measuring 142 meters, was the largest ship operated by the firm, boasting a cargo capacity of 1,200 tonnes. Both the vessel and its owner had been sanctioned by the United States in 2022 due to associations with Russia's military.
The Spanish sea rescue service reported that the Ursa Major issued a distress call on Monday morning while off the southeastern Spanish coast during treacherous weather, indicating that the ship was listing and had launched a lifeboat. According to Moscow, 14 out of the ship's 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain, with two crew members still missing.
The ship was reportedly en route to Vladivostok in eastern Russia, transporting two cranes for the port that weighed 380 tonnes each. Russian officials have not yet addressed the claims of terrorism surrounding the vessel's sinking. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian navy, noted that Russia is plagued by systemic maintenance issues with its fleet but did not imply that Kyiv was involved in this incident.
Throughout the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has made significant strides in diminishing Russia's naval abilities via drone and rocket strikes, particularly in the Black Sea, thus hindering its operational capabilities for three years. However, Ukraine has not directly targeted Russian vessels outside of the Black Sea, making any alleged involvement in the Ursa Major's sinking a notable strategic transition.
This event follows closely on the heels of another incident earlier this month, where a Russian tanker carrying oil products sank in the Black Sea, resulting in an ecological catastrophe. Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Russian oil fleet has faced severe sanctions from Western nations, leading to the reliance on a so-called ghost fleet of tankers, often poorly maintained and ill-suited for open waters, to facilitate oil transportation and avoid sanctions. As investigations progress regarding the circumstances surrounding the Ursa Major's demise, the international community watches closely, considering the implications of these maritime incidents amid ongoing tensions in the region.
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