Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in Mediterranean, 2 Crew Missing Following Explosion

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean after an engine room explosion while carrying cranes to Vladivostok. Fourteen crew members were rescued, two remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred 57 nautical miles from Almería, Spain, where Spanish authorities coordinated the rescue amidst poor weather conditions. The Ursa Major, operated by a subsidiary of Russia’s defense ministry, is subject to international sanctions. Spanish maritime units are monitoring for pollution and debris as investigations into the incident continue.