The Ursa Major, a Russian vessel formerly known as Sparta III, sank off the coast of Spain following an explosion in its engine room. The ship's owner, Oboronlogistika, has described the incident as a "terrorist act," according to Russian state news agency RIA.
While the specific cause of the explosion remains under investigation, Ukraine’s military intelligence alleges that the ship had previously been involved in transporting weapons and military equipment from Syria after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The Kremlin, a staunch supporter of Assad, has been withdrawing military assets from Syria in recent years.
At the time of the incident, the Ursa Major was reportedly en route to Vladivostok, Russia, carrying two large port cranes secured to its deck. Oboronlogistika has not provided further evidence to substantiate its claims of terrorism, but the incident has heightened tensions between Russia and its geopolitical rivals.
