Murcia Authorities Demand Investigation of Sunken Russian Vessel off Cartagena. The President of Murcia has called on the Ministry of Defense to disclose details regarding the sunken Ursa Major. Regional authorities are concerned about the possible presence of nuclear components on board. There is still no official information from Madrid.
The authorities of Murcia have officially demanded that the Spanish Ministry of Defense conduct a technical inspection of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which sank in 2024 approximately 60 nautical miles off Cartagena. The reason for this request stems from concerns that nuclear components may have been on board. The region's president, Fernando López Miras, sent a letter to Defense Minister Margarita Robles demanding comprehensive information about the details of the incident and calling for an inspection of the vessel for hazardous materials.
Official representative of the Murcia government Marcos Ortuño reported that since the sinking of the vessel, which belonged to the Russian company Oboronlogistika, the regional authorities have not received a single explanation from central government agencies. According to him, the lack of transparency and information is cause for serious concern, especially considering the nature of the cargo and possible risks to the environment and the safety of the region's residents.
The authorities of Murcia insist that the Spanish government provide detailed information on the causes and circumstances of the wreck, as well as on the measures taken after the incident. In the letter sent to the Ministry of Defense, the need to rule out the presence of any nuclear components on board is emphasized. The regional government also expressed dissatisfaction that, despite numerous requests and concerns, no official inspection of the vessel has yet been organized.
In January of last year, representatives of the People’s Party already raised this issue in Congress. However, the government's response merely noted that the Directorate General of Merchant Shipping and local authorities had been informed of the situation. According to RUSSPAIN, similar incidents involving vessels carrying potentially dangerous cargo have previously attracted public attention, as was the case with the accident in Huelva, where the environmental consequences influenced the region’s political agenda — for more details, see the article on the consequences of the railway disaster in Adamuz.
For reference: Ursa Major is a cargo vessel operated by the Russian company Oboronlogistika, which specializes in transportation for government agencies. The wreck occurred about a year and a half ago, but official investigation results have not yet been published. Questions about the nature of the cargo and possible environmental risks remain open, increasing pressure on the central authorities from regional bodies.
