Российский сухогруз Ursa Major, снабжавший группировку в Сирии, затонул в Средиземном море. Сообщается, что причиной крушения стал взрыв в машинном отделении.

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea in international waters between Agilas (Spain) and Oran (Algeria).

This was reported by El Espanol.

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According to the publication, the cause of the sinking was an explosion in the ship's engine room that occurred on December 23 in the afternoon. After the explosion, the ship sent a distress signal.

Fourteen crew members were rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena. Two other crew members are reported missing.

It is noted that at the time of the sinking, the Ursa Major was carrying empty containers. The ship left the port of St. Petersburg on December 11 and was scheduled to arrive in Vladivostok on January 22.

The Russian publication Mediazona reports that on December 22, the ship reduced its speed to one knot, and on Monday it began to drift south at the same speed. Initially, there were suggestions that the crew was waiting for other convoy ships – the freighter "Sparta" and three large landing ships of the Russian Navy. However, later three rescue vessels from Spain were dispatched towards Ursa Major.

OSINT analysts also noted that five Russian cargo ships entered the Mediterranean Sea: three military large landing ships and two freighters belonging to the company "Oboronlogistika." The freighters "Sparta" and Ursa Major had been transporting supplies for Russian troops in Syria for many years.

Analysts speculated that all five ships were intended for the evacuation of Russian bases in Syrian Tartus and Khmeimim.

Recall that the day before, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported that part of the Russian military got stuck in open water on the broken freighter Sparta during the evacuation from Syria.

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