Spanish authorities concluded that a Russian cargo vessel carried nuclear submarine reactor components bound for North Korea when it sank in the Mediterranean Sea on December 23, 2024, according to an investigation by Spanish newspaper La Verdad.
The Ursa Major went down approximately 60 nautical miles southeast of Spain’s port city of Cartagena after crew members reported explosions in the engine room. Spanish maritime rescue teams saved 14 crew members. Two engineers remain missing.
Investigators identified two undeclared containers weighing approximately 65 tons each as housings for VM-4SG nuclear reactors, typically used in Russian naval propulsion systems. The ship also carried specialized Liebherr cranes, which authorities believe Russia intended to use for offloading heavy equipment at the North Korean port of Rason.
Captain Igor Vladimirovich Anisimov initially told Spanish authorities the vessel transported empty containers and icebreaker components to Vladivostok. When investigators questioned the unusually heavy deck cargo visible in aerial surveillance, he later described the items as “manhole covers.”
The vessel followed an unusual route from St. Petersburg through the Mediterranean rather than taking a direct northern passage to Vladivostok. Investigators determined this routing suggested a planned stop at Rason, located near the Russian border.
Spanish maritime controllers detected erratic navigation patterns on December 21. The ship slowed but reported no problems. Rescue teams observed hull damage consistent with an external impact when they reached the listing vessel.
The Russian Navy landing ship Ivan Gren arrived at the scene and demanded that Spanish vessels withdraw at least two miles from the area. The warship launched multiple red flares as the Ursa Major sank to a depth of 2,500 meters. Seismic stations recorded underwater shockwaves measuring between 1.6 and 1.8 magnitude.
The Russian deep-sea research vessel Yantar, equipped with submersibles capable of reaching 6,000 meters, moved to the wreck site in early January. Maritime analysts believe Russia attempted to recover or destroy evidence of the cargo.
Oboronlogistika, the Russian Ministry of Defense subsidiary that operated the vessel, attributed the sinking to terrorism. Russia has not responded to Spanish findings about the nuclear cargo.
The incident occurs as North Korea accelerates its nuclear submarine program. Kim Jong Un recently inspected the construction of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine and announced plans to expand the fleet.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in December that Russia provides North Korea support for its missile and nuclear programs in exchange for troops and weapons used in Ukraine.
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