Spanish Government Rules Out Sabotage Near Cartagena

Spain’s government has ruled out sabotage or a torpedo attack in the sinking of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which went down on December 23, 2024, about 60 nautical miles from Cartagena. Defense Minister Margarita Robles told Spain’s Congress on May 18 that “no authority” has attributed the sinking to sabotage or a deliberate attack, according to Spanish media reports citing her parliamentary remarks. The vessel was in international waters when it sank, and a Spanish Navy report cited by the government rejected the torpedo theory. The case remains under scrutiny because the ship’s cargo has been described in official Spanish communications as nuclear reactor components. ### What exactly did Spain say this week? Margarita Robles said on May 18 that “hasta la fecha ninguna autoridad ha atribuido el hundimiento a sabotaje o ataque deliberado” — that no authority has so far attributed the sinking to sabotage or a deliberate attack — in comments reported by El País and other Spanish outlets. A government response cited by those reports said the ship sank in international waters and that the available findings did not support claims of a hostile strike. (elpais.com) The Spanish Navy also ruled out a torpedo attack, according to reports this month based on official communications and military assessments. That position was repeated after renewed speculation about whether the vessel had been deliberately targeted. ### What happened to the Ursa Major when it sank? (elpais.com) The Ursa Major sank on December 23, 2024, after explosions in its engine room, according to reports citing official Spanish and Russian accounts. The ship had 16 people on board. Fourteen crew members were rescued, while two were reported missing and are presumed dead. (infobae.com) Cartagena and the waters between Spain and Algeria became the focus of the rescue operation because the vessel went down roughly 60 to 62 nautical miles from the Spanish coast. Spanish rescue services and nearby ships assisted survivors after the distress call. ### Why did sabotage claims gain traction? (euronews.com) CNN reporting cited by several outlets revived questions this month about whether the ship had been attacked to stop a sensitive cargo shipment. Those reports pointed to the possibility that the Ursa Major was carrying components linked to nuclear reactors and raised questions about its destination. (infobae.com) Oboronlogistika, the Russian state-owned company linked to the vessel, had said after the sinking that the ship was sabotaged, according to later reports summarizing the case. Spanish authorities have now publicly pushed back on that version, saying the government and Navy have not found grounds to support it. (english.elpais.com) ### What has Spain said about the cargo? A Spanish government letter reported by AFP and other outlets said the Ursa Major was carrying “nuclear reactor components” similar to those used in nuclear submarines. Other Spanish reporting said a Navy document described the cargo as components for a nuclear icebreaker, underscoring that questions about the shipment remain central to the case. (pennlive.com) El País reported that the ship had previously been linked to Russia’s military logistics network and that the sinking was not listed among known Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian shipping. Spanish officials have not publicly endorsed claims that the cargo was bound for North Korea. (spacewar.com) ### What are officials in Murcia asking for now? Fernando López Miras’s regional government in Murcia has demanded more information from Madrid and called for a technical inspection of the wreck. Regional officials said they want clarity on the cargo and any possible environmental or radiological risk from the ship, which remains on the seabed about 2,500 meters below the surface. (english.elpais.com) The next step is likely to play out through Spain’s parliament and exchanges between the central government, the Defense Ministry and Murcia’s regional authorities. Questions already filed by opposition lawmakers and regional officials have kept the Ursa Major on the political agenda in May 2026. (elpais.com) (laopiniondemurcia.es)