A US-sanctioned Russian cargo ship sank within the Mediterranean Sea in a single day after an explosion ripped by the engine room, Russia’s international ministry confirmed.
Two members of the Ursa Main are nonetheless lacking after 14 crew had been rescued and delivered to Spain on Tuesday morning following the blast.
Video footage confirmed the 466ft ship closely swaying with its stern a lot decrease down within the water because it handed between Spain and Algeria.
The boat’s operator Oboronlogistika – which was sanctioned by the US treasury in 2022 for hyperlinks to the Russian army – beforehand stated it was en path to the Russian port of Vladivostok carrying cranes.
Nevertheless, the corporate didn’t touch upon the explosion. The Russian international ministry didn’t say what prompted the engine room blast.
The Ursa Main is pictured throughout a monitoring operation performed by the Portuguese Navy (Portuguese Navy/AFP by way of Getty Im)
Russia’s embassy in Spain was cited by the state RIA information company as saying it was wanting into the circumstances of the sinking and was in contact with the authorities in Spain.
The ship left St Petersburg on 11 December and was final seen sending a sign at round 10pm on Monday between Algeria and Spain the place it sank, in keeping with ship monitoring knowledge.
It was in the identical space of the Mediterranean as one other sanctioned Russian ship, Sparta, when it bumped into hassle and the 2 ships had been noticed heading by the English Channel final week, reportedly beneath escort.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian army intelligence (HUR) reported that the Sparta was heading to Russia’s naval base on the Syrian coast at Tartous to maneuver army tools out of Syria after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad.
The ship left St Petersburg on 11 December and was final seen sending a sign at round 10pm on Monday between Algeria and Spain the place it sank, in keeping with ship monitoring knowledge (Sky)
A Kremlin official stated on Monday that Russia was involved with Syria’s new rulers on the way forward for its two army amenities, at each diplomatic and army degree.
Ursa Main’s proprietor Oboronlogistika has been closely concerned in transporting cargo to Tartous, Syria, up to now.
Syrian bases and the port of Tartus have grow to be vital to Moscow’s operations within the Mediterranean and Africa and the autumn of Assad has given the Kremlin an intense logistical headache.
Russian operations in nations like Libya, Mali, Central African Republic and Burkina Faso have relied closely on the port and on the Khmeimim air base as a manner station and refuelling cease.
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