Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean Sea after Onboard Explosion, Two Crew Members Missing

madrid - A Russian cargo ship has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion onboard. Two crew members of the sunken Ursa Major are missing.

The ship went down between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in the engine room, according to Spanish media such as El Español. The Ursa Major was operated by a subsidiary of the Russian defense company Oboronlogistics. It was on its way from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.

Several Spanish ships participated in the rescue operation. The rescued crew members were brought to the Spanish port of Cartagena. The ship has been under US sanctions since 2022 as the owner is considered a "pillar of support" for military supplies to the Russian naval base in Syrian Tartus, as reported on Telegram.