A Russian ship sank under mysterious circumstances: it may have been carrying nuclear reactors for North Korea.

A Russian cargo ship, likely carrying two submarine nuclear reactors and possibly bound for North Korea, was blown up. It sank under mysterious circumstances approximately 100 kilometers off the coast of Spain, according to reports. CNN.

The fate of the Ursa Major has been shrouded in mystery since its sinking on December 23, 2024. However, CNN journalists speculate that this could be a highly risky intervention by Western military forces to prevent Russia from transferring advanced nuclear technology to its key ally, North Korea. The vessel's voyage came just two months after Kim Jong-un sent troops to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The recent surge in military activity around the ship's wreckage has only added to questions about its cargo and route. According to open aviation sources, American radiation surveillance aircraft have flown over the wreckage twice in the past year. Furthermore, a week after the ship's crash, a source familiar with the Spanish investigation reportedly reportedly reportedly flew near the wreckage by a Russian reconnaissance vessel, after which four more explosions occurred.

On the subject: North Korea has opened a museum dedicated to mercenaries who fought on Russia's side in Ukraine.

For a long time, Spanish authorities remained largely silent on the incident and only issued a statement on February 23 after pressure from opposition lawmakers. It confirmed that the ship's captain told Spanish investigators that the Ursa Major was carrying "components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used on submarines," although he was unaware whether they contained nuclear fuel.

The chain of events that led to the Ursa Major's sinking remains unclear. According to a Spanish investigation, a rare type of torpedo may have been responsible for the hull damage. The incident occurred in the final weeks of Joe Biden's presidency, when the situation in Ukraine was turning in Moscow's favor and the United States was seeking to avoid direct escalation.

The Ursa Major, known as the Sparta 3 and previously used for equipment evacuation in Russia's Syrian military operation, docked at the Ust-Luga fuel port in the Gulf of Finland on December 2 and then moved to a container terminal in the port of St. Petersburg. On December 11, it departed for Vladivostok carrying two large "hatches," 129 empty containers, and two large Liebherr cranes.

In October of that year, the ship's owner, the state-affiliated corporation Oboronlogistics, claimed its vessels were licensed to transport nuclear materials. Analysis of video footage of the loading in Ust-Luga shows that the containers were placed inside the hull, leaving space under the future "hatches."

The vessel sailed along the coast of France, after which it was escorted by Portuguese Navy aircraft and ships, as well as two Russian warships, the Ivan Gren and the Alexander Otrakovskiy. On the morning of December 22, the Portuguese military ceased their escort.

About four hours later, already in Spanish waters, the vessel suddenly slowed, and Spanish rescue services contacted the ship to check if it was in distress. The crew responded that everything was fine.

However, about 24 hours later, the vessel veered sharply off course and sent a distress signal on December 23 at 11:53 UTC. According to the investigation, three explosions occurred on the starboard side, likely near the engine room, killing two crew members. The vessel listed and lost propulsion.

The remaining 14 crew members evacuated in a lifeboat and were picked up by the Spanish rescue vessel Salvamar Draco. A Spanish naval vessel arrived at the scene at 19:27 PM. However, half an hour later, the Russian ship Ivan Gren demanded that all vessels maintain a distance of two nautical miles and return the rescued crew.

Spanish authorities insisted on a rescue operation and dispatched a helicopter to search for survivors. Video footage shows a rescuer attempting to enter the engine room, but it is locked. He begins inspecting the living quarters and containers, discovering debris, fishing nets, and equipment in two of them.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, the vessel appeared stable and should not have sunk quickly. However, at 21:50 PM, the Ivan Gren fired a series of flares, followed by four explosions. Spain's National Seismic Network recorded four distinctive signals at this time.

By 23:10 the Ursa Major had sunk.

Fourteen rescued Russian sailors were brought to the port of Cartagena, where they were questioned by Spanish investigators. The captain, fearing for his safety, was reluctant to disclose the cargo.

When pressed, he clarified that the "hatches" referred to components of two nuclear reactors similar to those found in submarines. He claimed there was no nuclear fuel inside.

According to a source, the captain, identified as Igor Anisimov, believed the ship would be diverted to the North Korean port of Rason. The investigation also notes the unusual nature of the route: the ship, carrying cranes, empty containers, and hatches, circumnavigated the globe from one Russian port to another, despite the country's extensive rail network. It is speculated that the cranes may have been needed for unloading.

A few days later, the crew was returned to Russia. A man with that name contacted by journalists denied involvement in the incident and stated that he had retired. Four days after the crash, Oboronlogistics called the incident a "targeted terrorist attack" and reported three explosions. A 50 x 50 cm hole with inward-curved edges was discovered in the hull, and the deck was littered with shrapnel.

A week later, according to a source, the Russian vessel Yantar returned to the site. Officially a research vessel, but suspected of being engaged in reconnaissance activities, it hovered over the wreckage for five days, after which four more explosions were recorded.

Marine tracking data shows that Yantar was in the area in January, calling at Egypt and Algeria before transmitting a signal 20km from Ursa Major's last position.

Key evidence on the Mediterranean seabed

Some details of the investigation were first published by the Spanish newspaper La Verdad, raising questions from the opposition. The Spanish government stated that the wreckage lies at a depth of approximately 2500 meters; retrieving the flight recorder "is impossible without significant technical resources and risks." Experts doubt this assessment unless there is a radiation threat.

Modern black boxes usually float up and are equipped with beacons, so it is possible that it has already been found.

The United States also showed interest in the area: WC135-R radiation reconnaissance aircraft based in Nebraska were deployed there twice. A spokesman for the airbase confirmed their mission was to collect and analyze nuclear traces, but declined to disclose details.

It's unknown whether they detected any traces of radiation. Spanish authorities did not report a threat to the coast, and no signs of contamination were detected.

Possible transfer of nuclear technology

Speculation that the reactors were destined for North Korea arose after photographs of North Korea's first nuclear submarine were published in December 2025. The images showed only the hull, with no evidence of a functioning reactor.

Janes analyst Mike Plunkett noted that the reactors were likely transported without fuel. If they were removed from decommissioned submarines, they would still be radioactive, but to a lesser extent.

He emphasized that the transfer of such technologies is only possible between very close allies. If this did indeed happen, it would be a serious step on Moscow's part and a potentially alarming signal, especially for South Korea.

The investigation suggests that the reactors being transported were the VM-4SG model used on Delta IV-class submarines, but the evidence for this is limited.

Satellite images confirm the vessel's presence in Ust-Luga on December 4, and video recordings confirm its loading.

After the sinking, Kommersant reported that the ship was carrying port cranes and hatches for an icebreaker being built in Vladivostok, but did not mention other items.

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What pierced the ship's hull?

The investigation is also looking into the cause of the hull damage. The captain stated that he heard no impact or explosion on December 22, even though the ship suddenly slowed. Three explosions followed the next day.

According to one theory, the hole could have been created by a supercavitating Barracuda-type torpedo, capable of moving at high speed. (This is a special type of torpedo that moves through water not in the "normal" manner, but inside a gas bubble. – Approx. Ed.) However, other experts believe that the use of a magnetic mine is more likely.

The Russian company that owned the incident, as well as the Russian, Spanish, and British military, did not respond to inquiries. The Pentagon declined to comment. Western intelligence officials called the incident strange and questioned the Spanish investigation's findings, but offered no alternative explanation.

The mystery of the ship's and its cargo's demise lies at the bottom of the sea.

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