A Russian ship that sank in the Mediterranean after its engine room exploded may have been carrying parts for nuclear reactors used in submarines, a Spanish government document shows.
The Ursa Major sank on December 23, 2024, between Spain and Algeria, while it is believed to have been on a voyage from St. Petersburg east of Vladivostok in Russia. Two crew members lost their lives, while 14 others were rescued by Spanish rescue ships.
It has emerged that the Russian captain of the Arusha Major told Spanish port authorities after his rescue that the ship was transporting parts for nuclear reactors suitable for use in submarines.
In a written response to opposition lawmakers, the Spanish government wrote that the ship's captain "confessed" that the vessel was transporting "components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used on submarines."
The response was included in a document filed by the Spanish parliament on Feb. 23 and reported by CNN on Tuesday. The document has since been seen by The Associated Press.
At the time of the sinking, the Russian ship's state-owned owner, Oboronlogistika, said the Big Dipper had been sabotaged. It said three powerful explosions damaged the ship just above the waterline in what the company described as a "terrorist attack."
Oboronlogistika was created under the Russian Defense Ministry and was subject to US and European Union sanctions for its ties to the Russian military.
