Mystery sinking of Ursa Major ties to reactor parts bound for North Korea
A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major sank about 60 miles off eastern Spain after a series of explosions on December 23, 2024. Investigators say the vessel was carrying components for two submarine nuclear reactors allegedly bound for North Korea, with the cargo later described by the captain as “components for two nuclear reactors” rather than manhole covers. Two crew members were killed and 14 survived; the ship had departed St. Petersburg on December 11 and was escorted by Russian military vessels. Spanish authorities and CNN cite the cargo, and investigators are exploring whether the damage could have been caused by a high-speed torpedo or explosive device. The wreck site drew attention from Western intelligence, including a Yantar reconnaissance ship visiting the area and US WC-135R flights monitoring for nuclear material.
