Espreso. Global
OPINION

World ocean turns hostile for Russian ships

29 December, 2024 Sunday
15:21

For the first time in history, one of the largest Russian dry cargo ships owned by Russia's Defense Ministry, which is already under sanctions, has been destroyed in the Mediterranean Sea by three explosions. Unknown militias have begun targeting the Russian fleet in international waters

client/title.list_title

An extraordinary incident. The Russian fleet suffered a major loss in the Mediterranean. Today, Oboronlogistics, a company working for the Russian Defense Ministry, revealed details about the destruction of one of its largest and most advanced Ro-Ro dry cargo ships, Ursa Major. The ship, with a total displacement of 12,700 tons, was built in Germany in 2009. Since 2022, it has been under U.S. sanctions for its role in aggression against Ukraine. The entire crew consisted of Russian citizens.

According to the Oboronlogistics, Ursa Major was transporting two mobile portal cranes weighing a total of 686 tons, manufactured in Germany (Liebherr 420). Russia doesn’t produce cranes of this type, nor can it purchase them in Europe due to sanctions. With no quick alternatives, the cranes were being transported from Europe to the Far East.

On December 23, at 1:50 p.m., three explosions occurred on the starboard side near the stern of the ship, off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea.

Upon inspection of the damage, the Russians found a crater measuring 50 x 50 centimeters, roughly 15-30 centimeters above the waterline. The edges of the crater were bent inward, indicating that the explosions originated externally.

While the crater alone might not seem like a severe threat to such a large vessel, the three strikes were executed with remarkable precision. The blasts knocked out the ship’s power systems entirely, preventing the crew from activating backup systems, pumping out water, or mounting a proper survival effort. By 3:10 p.m., the Russian sailors abandoned the ship, leaving behind two crew members who couldn’t be found. At 11:22 p.m., the Ursa Major sank, 70 miles south of Cartagena, Spain.

The Oboronlogistics called the incident a “terrorist attack” on the vessel.

"The Russians have no evidence identifying who was responsible for the attack. No group or organization has claimed responsibility for the destruction of this military-linked vessel."

From this moment on, no Russian ship or cargo under the Russian flag can feel secure anywhere in the world’s oceans.

This event is the most impactful "sanction" to Russian maritime trade since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Source

About the author: Yuriy Butusov, journalist.

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Friday
17 January
21:20
Belarusian volunteer Maria Zaitseva killed near Bakhmut
20:55
Russian oil tankers under construction added to U.S. sanctions list
20:32
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, January 8-15
Russian forces resort to 'Zhiguli' cars for assaults on Ukrainian positions
20:10
Finnish party drops candidate over calling Ukraine war 'special military operation'
19:51
Ukrainian paratroopers capture 7 Russian soldiers in operation near Kurakhove
19:29
Zelenskyy awards Hero of Ukraine title to defender Dmytro Maslovskyi, who died in hand-to-hand combat
19:10
Exclusive
Military expert Zgurets addresses claims of 'manipulation' in WWII-era mine report
18:50
OPINION
Rubio understands Putin’s true goal
18:31
Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Pezeshkian sign strategic partnership agreement
18:10
Press release
Serhiy Zgurets' materials are reliable, free of manipulation: Espreso on controversy around publication on outdated mine procurement
17:54
In Kryvyi Rih, man lost his second wife in Russian attack, having buried his first during Kherson's occupation
17:35
97 clashes reported on Russian-Ukrainian front on Jan.17: tense situation in Pokrovsk sector
17:19
Updated
Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih leaves four dead, several injured
17:14
OPINION
From powerhouse to prison: Russia’s descent under Putin
16:53
Ukrainian forces neutralize, capture Russian soldiers behind execution of two POWs
16:34
Exclusive
Trump's team knows losing Ukraine means China wins war – politician Rybachuk
16:15
How Russia’s ties with Iran shape war in Ukraine
16:00
Updated
Ukraine-Southeast Europe ministerial meeting in Kyiv issues joint communiqué
15:56
Review
Flying nonstop for over two days: inside Penguin drones supporting Ukrainian forces at front
15:35
Exclusive
Ukrainian general names three key strategic targets for Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russia
15:12
Russia's inflation surges as Central Bank faces political pressure
14:51
Russian drone attacks Ukrainian Witness filming crew in Zaporizhzhia sector
14:34
BTR-D
Russian forces use sunk BTR-Ds to create river crossings in Kursk
14:15
OPINION
Ukrainian refugees at risk: why is Slovakia threatening to halt aid?
13:33
Ukraine to introduce basic military training in universities
13:11
Exclusive
Russian forces try to surround Velyka Novosilka from almost all directions — military expert
12:54
OPINION
"Deal of the century": grandiose rhetoric, but still missing the mark
12:30
Ukrainian forces hit Russian radar equipment in Belgorod region
12:10
Exclusive
Europe either wakes up this year or becomes Russia’s next target — Ukrainian diplomat
11:50
Exclusive
Russian forces fail to cross Oskil River in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region — Ukrainian officer
11:33
Russia launches drone barrage on Ukraine, injures child in Kyiv
11:13
Russia's attacks cause nearly one-third increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in 2024
10:55
Russian diplomats gain unauthorized access to restricted UK Parliament area
10:36
Review
New UK agreement: financial aid, deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. Serhiy Zgurets’ column
10:13
Ukraine reports 141 combat clashes, halts 53 Russian attacks in Pokrovsk direction
09:54
German FM criticizes Scholz government over €3 billion aid delay to Ukraine
09:32
Russia loses 1,670 soldiers, 13 armored vehicles, 12 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Thursday
16 January
21:20
Updated
Zelenskyy responds to Polish presidential candidate opposing Ukraine’s EU, NATO membership
20:54
Exclusive
Moscow unlikely to agree to peacekeepers in Ukraine - Institute of World Policy
20:33
Exclusive
Trust in U.S., West declines among Ukrainians - survey
More news