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Russia’s Failing Maritime Operations
The time has come for the West to recognize the dangerous decline of Russia’s maritime capabilities. This tragic incident involving the cargo ship Ursa Major off the Spanish coast raises alarming questions. While claims of technical failures or even suspected terrorist attacks swirl around, the facts remain stark. The situation in Syria jeopardizes Russia’s key naval base in Tartus, the linchpin for its military campaigns in Africa. Renowned expert Mark Galeotti emphasized to ‘Al Jazeera’ that without this base, projecting naval power in the Mediterranean would require navigating through the Baltic – a strategy fraught with peril.
Dark days for Russia’s seafaring global terror operations as yet another ship sinks off the coast of Spain.
The fully loaded “Ursa Major” carrying God knows what…now gone, taking several crew members to Davy Jones Locker.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that many of these vessels belong to a so-called ghost fleet, which has been busy dodging sanctions since the onset of the Ukrainian conflict. Indeed, some ships operating dangerously close to Spain are displaying concerning errors that could spell disaster for all involved. Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk pointedly remarked that Russia is experiencing serious maintenance failures with its fleet.
A Legacy of Failures
Diving deeper into the urging issues of Russia’s maritime failures, the ship Ursa Major, known for its sanctions, sank in the Mediterranean on December 23 due to an explosion in the engine room. In a bizarre twist, a Russian military ship led the rescue effort. Reportedly, 14 crew members were rescued in Cartagena, while two remain missing, according to military sources.
The independent media outlet Mediazona has revealed that this ship was a vital supply vessel for Russia’s military operations in Syria. Allegations swirl that it set sail from Saint Petersburg for Vladivostok, with the captain claiming that the cargo containers were empty—a claim that remains unverified amidst growing suspicion.
The Russian cargo ship „Ursa Major“ sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Reportedly, an explosion occurred.
This expensive Russian ship was on route to Vladivostok.
Furthermore, Ukrainian military intelligence disclosed that another Russian ship, the Sparta, sent to Syria to withdraw military equipment, has also succumbed to failure and is now adrift in the Mediterranean. The owners, Oboronlogistka, claim the Ursa Major was merely transporting equipment for the “implementation of state tasks.” However, Ukrainian analysts assert otherwise, insisting it was loaded with crucial military components.
OSINT analyst Oliver Alexander laments that this loss represents a significant blow to Russian operational capabilities. The cause of such catastrophic failures remains contested, with Oboronlogistka making sensational claims of a ‘selective terrorist attack’—yet without substantiation.
Just days before, two Russian flagged oil tankers recorded perilous incidents in the Kerch Strait, displaying critical signs of operational distress. The fallout from these failures is posing severe environmental threats. To add to this disastrous picture, Russian operations remain vulnerable, as interceptions by adversaries continue to escalate.
Unraveling the Kremlin’s Tactics
It’s crucial to note that the Kremlin is attempting to maneuver from 12 nautical miles of the coast, where international waters begin, conducting operations from vessels that do not bear the Russian flag—thus evading stricter scrutiny.
It’s been observed that a particular deplorable tactic involves our adversaries rebranding older, sanction-afflicted vessels, altering names and registrations to circumvent detection. Senior energy analyst Jorge León described the practice as a veil under which Russian operations continue to operate. It’s an elaborate money laundering scheme disguised as maritime trade.
As technicians from Vortexa have noted, the increasing age and wear of these vessels not only pose a navigational risk but are also a grim reminder of Russia’s declining maritime strategy. Could we be witnessing the collapse of Russia’s ability to project power on the seas? The world watches with bated breath.
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