Sunken Russian cargo ship was carrying nuclear reactor components allegedly destined for North Korea, investigators say
By isabelle // 2026-01-03
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  • A sunken Russian cargo ship secretly carried nuclear submarine reactor parts.
  • Spanish investigators say the components were likely destined for North Korea.
  • The ship sank under suspicious circumstances from reported explosions.
  • This suggests a dangerous military technology trade for war supplies in Ukraine.
  • The incident reveals how the conflict is spreading high-risk weapons.
A sunken Russian cargo ship at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea has become the center of a disturbing international mystery. According to a new investigative report from Spanish authorities, the vessel was not carrying routine port equipment as claimed, but rather critical components for nuclear submarine reactors, allegedly destined for North Korea. This revelation, if confirmed, points to a dangerous new level of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and raises urgent questions about who sought to stop the shipment. The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank under highly suspicious circumstances in December 2024 in waters between Spain and Algeria. The ship’s owner, Oboronlogistika, a subsidiary linked to the Russian Defense Ministry, characterized the incident as "an act of terrorism." Spanish rescue teams evacuated 14 crew members, while two others remained missing. The vessel, which was under U.S. sanctions for supporting Russian military logistics, ultimately listed and went down after reported explosions. Initially, the ship’s captain, Igor Vladimirovich Anisimov, told investigators the cargo included more than 100 empty containers, two giant crawler cranes, and two large components for a Russian icebreaker project. These components were visible on deck, covered by blue tarps. However, their estimated weight of roughly 65 tonnes each suggested an unusually dense material, far heavier than typical machinery.

A shifting story

When pressed on the nature of these massive objects, the captain’s story changed. After asking for time to think, he later claimed they were merely "manhole covers." This inconsistent account prompted deeper scrutiny from Spanish investigators. Documents reviewed by the Spanish outlet La Verdad show authorities ultimately identified the cargo as casings for two VM-4SG nuclear submarine reactors. The VM-4SG is a Soviet-designed naval reactor that powered Russia’s Delta IV-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War and remains in limited service today. The reactor’s lid alone is about three feet thick, made of solid steel to contain radiation, aligning with the immense weight of the sunken cargo. This was no ordinary shipment.

Were nuclear components destined for Pyongyang?

Perhaps most alarming is the suspected destination. Spanish authorities speculated the reactor components may have been intended for North Korea’s nascent nuclear submarine program. This aligns with Pyongyang’s recent unveiling of its first ballistic missile submarine, which multiple analysts suggest likely benefited from Russian technical assistance. The alleged transfer fits a grim geopolitical trade: Russia is believed to owe North Korea a strategic debt for the vast transfers of artillery shells and munitions that have aided Russian forces in Ukraine. The cause of the sinking itself adds a layer of intrigue. The shipowner reported three explosions and a 20-inch hole in the hull, with the captain confirming the hole’s ragged edges were bent inward. This damage profile is consistent with an external explosion, supporting the terrorism claim. The question of who executed such a strike, and under what authority, remains unanswered. This incident follows a pattern of mysterious maritime events involving sanctioned Russian arms carriers. Another ship, the Sparta, was reportedly experiencing breakdowns and difficulties around the same time. The Ursa Major itself was well-known to observers as part of the "Syria Express," frequently ferrying military cargo to Russia’s base in Tartus. The implications of this failed shipment are profound. It suggests an escalation in Russia’s willingness to share advanced, proliferation-sensitive military technology in exchange for wartime supplies. The Cold War-era practice of client states receiving superpower technology has returned with a vengeance, now serving the urgent needs of a modern conflict in Europe. For the international community, the sinking of the Ursa Major is a warning. It reveals the shadowy corridors of wartime logistics and barter that operate beneath the surface of official diplomacy. The incident underscores how the war in Ukraine is reshaping global alliances and accelerating the spread of dangerous technology to volatile regions. The Mediterranean seabed now holds not just a wrecked ship, but tangible evidence of a deepening and perilous partnership. As the world focuses on battlefield lines in Eastern Ukraine, this sunken cargo illustrates how the conflict’s true frontlines may extend far beyond, into the realms of nuclear proliferation and clandestine sea lanes, challenging global security in ways we are only beginning to understand. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Maritime-Executive.com BBC.com ZeroHedge.com
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