The Russian cargo ship Ursa Main has sunk within the Mediterranean Sea between the Spanish metropolis of Águilas and Algeria’s Oran after an onboard explosion.

Supply: Spanish media outlet La Verdad, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: The Spanish maritime rescue service transported 14 crew members to the port of Cartagena, however two stay lacking.

In response to La Verdad sources, an explosion occurred aboard the vessel round 12:30 on Monday, 23 December, inflicting it to checklist. The realm was subsequently marked as hazardous for transport till a Russian navy ship arrived to supervise rescue efforts.

A number of fishing vessels working within the neighborhood initially assisted within the rescue, joined later by specialists from Spain's maritime rescue service.

Formally, the Ursa Main was in transit from Russia’s Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok. It set sail on 11 December and was scheduled to reach on 22 January.

The ship’s captain claimed it was carrying empty containers on the time of the accident.

Nonetheless, Russian outlet Mediazona, citing OSINT analysts, reported that 5 Russian cargo ships, together with three massive navy touchdown ships and two cargo vessels owned by Oboronlogistika, had lately entered the Mediterranean.

Each the Ursa Main and the Sparta had lengthy been concerned within the so-called "Syrian Categorical", a provide route for Russian forces in Syria.

Analysts assumed that every one 5 ships have been tasked with evacuating Russian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim, Syria.

In a press launch from the corporate Oboronlogistika, it was said that the ship Ursa Main "launched into one other voyage to the Far East carrying a big venture cargo as a part of state duties aimed toward creating port infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route". In response to the knowledge, the vessel was allegedly transporting port cranes weighing 380 tonnes every, meant for the growth of a terminal in Vladivostok, in addition to 45-tonne hatch covers for brand new icebreakers.

Background:

• On 23 December, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported {that a} cargo vessel, Sparta, despatched by Russia to evacuate its navy tools and weaponry from Syria, had damaged down on the way in which in open waters close to Portugal.
• The EU beforehand said its intention to boost the difficulty of the Russian navy presence in Syria throughout talks with the nation’s new management.

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