The “veteran of military transportation” was of great importance for the so-called Syrian Express and the incident will have a long-lasting impact on Russia's logistical capabilities. The Ursa Major “was transporting valuable and sophisticated foreign-made equipment that Russia cannot produce itself,

A Russian cargo ship has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion onboard, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 24. The explosion occurred in Ursa Major’s engine rooms just after midday on Dec. 23, causing the ship to list between Spain and Algeria. The cause is not yet known.

A Norwegian shipping company on Friday rejected an accusation from Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, that it refused to rescue sailors from a sinking Russian cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea.