Sunk Putin cargo ship was victim of sabotage that sparked three explosions onboard, Russians believe as Ukraine vows more attacks

Russia suspects large-scale sabotage following the ‘three explosions’ that sank the military freighter Ursa Major in the Mediterranean.

Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but a prominent war source in Kiev has warned Vladimir Putin to expect more such acts.

The 466-foot ship sank hours after the explosions. It had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and lay between Spain and Algeria.

At the time there were reports of one explosion in the engine room.

But now the Russian owner of the Ursa Major – Oboronlogistics, closely linked to Vladimir Putin’s Defense Ministry – says that a “pre-planned terrorist attack was carried out on the ship” on December 23.

“There were three consecutive explosions on the starboard side in the stern area,” the company admitted.

‘The ship developed a list of 25 degrees – a clear sign that water was beginning to flood the ship’s compartments.’

Survivors of the sinking of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major stand on the deck of a Spanish maritime rescue ship upon arrival at the port of Cartagena, Spain, December 23, 2024

A criminal investigation is underway in Russia into the alleged sabotage, which may have involved explosives on board.

Officially, the ship that had passed through the English Channel via the Suez Canal was bound for Vladivostok in the Pacific Ocean, but there are suspicions that it would call at Tartus in Syria en route to take on military cargo as Russia reduces its armed forces. presence after the fall of ally Bashar al-Assad.

On board the ship were two gantry cranes with a total weight of 686 tons, two crane barges with a weight of 27 tons, two marine bilge covers with a total weight of 91 tons, a 20-ft container with spare parts for the covers with a weight of two tons plus 129 empty containers. containers.

Its loss is a blow to Putin because the cargo included super-heavy cranes and parts of a new nuclear icebreaker, such as 45-ton hatch covers.

Ukrainian war correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko, with 340,000 followers, said ships from Putin’s so-called shadow fleet that evade sanctions and carry military supplies could now be threatened.

“The Russian bulk carrier Ursa Major was probably damaged by three explosions,” its channel Tsaplienko_Ukraine Fights reported.

Footage showed rescued sailors from the Ursa Major after an incident in the Mediterranean

The Russian ship Ursa Major with a mysterious cargo on board sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria

“If this is true, and there is sabotage on board the ship, the Russian economy could soon take a strategic hit as a result of the ‘shadow fleet’ suspending its activities.

‘The ship that sank off Spain was involved in the ‘Syrian Express’, a weapons delivery system for the Assad regime in Syria.

“If Russian ships continue to transport weapons, oil and grain stolen from Ukraine, then similar sabotage on other ships in neutral waters is, who knows, not out of the question.

“If Russia suddenly wants to guarantee their safety, it will send them back to Russian ports for inspection.

“In both cases, the ships will stop bringing crazy money to Russia so that the Kremlin will not spend it on terror against the Ukrainians.”