**Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean Following Engine Room Explosion**

Two Crew Members from Ursa Major Missing, 14 Rescued, According to Russian Foreign Ministry

The Ursa Major, pictured in Istanbul in 2023, last sent a signal at 2204 GMT on Monday, between Algeria and Spain.

Photograph: Yoruk Isik/Reuters

A Russian cargo ship, the Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria following an explosion in its engine room, according to the Russian foreign ministry on Tuesday.

Two crew members are still missing, while the remaining 14 were rescued and brought to Spain, the ministry confirmed in a statement.

LSEG ship tracking data reveals the Ursa Major departed from St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 11 and was last detected sending a signal at 2204 GMT on Monday, between Algeria and Spain. The vessel had indicated its next port of call was Vladivostok, Russia, rather than the Syrian port of Tartous, which it had visited previously.

The ship is operated and owned by SK-Yug, a company under Oboronlogistics, according to LSEG data. Both Oboronlogistics and SK-Yug have declined to comment on the sinking.

In a statement issued on December 20, Oboronlogistics stated that the Ursa Major was transporting specialized port cranes intended for installation at Vladivostok, as well as parts for new icebreakers.