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The Ursa Major sank on Dec. 23, 2024, between Spain and Algeria
while allegedly on a journey from St. Petersburg to Russia's
eastern port of Vladivostok. Two crew members were lost while 14
other people were saved by Spanish rescue craft.
In a written response to opposition lawmakers, the Spanish
government wrote that the ship’s captain “confessed” that the
ship was carrying “components for two nuclear reactors similar
to those used in submarines.”
The response was included in a document registered by the
Spanish parliament on Feb. 23 and was first reported by CNN on
Tuesday. The document has been seen by The Associated Press.
At the time of the sinking, the Russian state-owned ship owner,
Oboronlogistika, said that the Ursa Major was sabotaged. It said
three powerful explosions damaged the boat just above the water
line in what the company described as a “terrorist attack.”
Oboronlogistika was established under Russia’s defense ministry
and placed under U.S. and European Union sanctions for its ties
to Russia’s military.
According to the document, the boat's manifest said the boat was
carrying 129 containers, two large cranes and “two well covers.”
Officials said that when questioned upon rescue by the Harbor
Master in Cartagena, Spain, the boat captain revealed that the
well covers were nuclear components. He added that the boat was
not carrying nuclear fuel.
Spanish authorities said they were not able to search the ship
to confirm the information during the rescue operation which
focused on saving the crew and searching for the two missing
members. The wreck rests at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) deep.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with
reporters on Wednesday that he hasn’t seen the reports regarding
the ship’s cargo while adding: “there is nothing for us to
comment on here.”
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