A recent investigation has uncovered a high-stakes maritime mystery involving the Ursa Major, a Russian cargo ship that sank under “unexplained circumstances” about 60 miles off the coast of Spain on December 23, 2024, as reported by the CNN.
Evidence suggests the vessel was covertly transporting nuclear submarine reactors to North Korea before it was intercepted.
Although manifested as “manhole coves” and cranes, the ship’s captain later confessed to Spanish investigators that the vessel carried components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used in submarines.
The ship suffered three explosions on December 23, killing two crew members. While a Russian state-linked owner called it a terrorist attack, a Spanish investigation suggests the hull may have been breached by a Barracuda supercavitating torpedo-a high-speed weapon possessed by only a few elite militaries including the US.
Following the initial blasts, a Russian escort ship (the Ivan Gren) behaved aggressively, ordering Spanish rescuers away. Later four more explosions were detected, likely triggered by the Russians to destroy sensitive cargo before the ship settled 2,500 meters deep.
In the years since the sinking, US “nuke sniffer” aircraft (WC-135R) have flown over the wreckage twice. Additionally, a suspected Russian spy ship, the Yantar, was spotted over the site, possibly conducting recovery or demolition operations.
The incident occurred just months after North Korea sent troops to aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Experts believe the reactors were a “quid pro quo” upgrade for Kim Jong Un’s submarine fleet.
The timing-during the final weeks of the Biden administration-suggests a clandestine Western intervention intended to halt the proliferation of nuclear technology without sparking a direct military escalation with Moscow.
While some have described the incident as strange or suggested the Spanish conclusions were far-fetched but have not provided an alternative explanation for the initial blasts that hit the boat.
