The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean after an explosion in its engine room, confirmed by Russia’s foreign ministry. En route to Vladivostok, the ship was sanctioned by the US in 2022. Fourteen crew members were rescued, while two remain missing. The incident occurred while Ursa Major was in the vicinity of another sanctioned vessel, Sparta. The cause of the explosion is currently unknown, and the ship was heavily involved in transporting military cargo to Syria.