Title: Dramatic Rescue in the Mediterranean: 14 of 16 Crew Saved After Russian Cargo Ship Sinks
In a dramatic rescue operation off the coast of Algeria and Spain, 14 out of the 16 crew members of a Russian cargo ship have been saved after their vessel sank in the Mediterranean Sea. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the rescue on Tuesday.
The sinking was attributed to an explosion in the engine room, as reported by the foreign ministry. The rescued crew members were subsequently transported to Spain, according to Russian authorities.
The sunken vessel, identified as the Ursa Major, is approximately 142 meters long. It had been en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Vladivostok, Russia, via the Japan Sea, according to maritime tracking website Marine Traffic.
However, claims from Ukrainian intelligence suggest a different destination: Syria. They allege that the Ursa Major was heading to Syria to retrieve military equipment and weapons, following the fall of the Assad regime.
The Assad regime, led by former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, collapsed around two weeks ago when rebels seized the Syrian capital, Damascus. Assad and his family fled to Russia, where they were granted asylum.
The development has raised questions about Russia’s military presence in Syria, with Moscow pulling back forces from some bases in the country.
