The Ursa Major's final journey
Dec. 2, 2024
Journey from Russia
Russian cargo ship Ursa Major loads up in St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga and leaves on Dec. 11. Its public manifest says it was bound for Vladivostok.
It is accompanied by two Russian military ships as it sails along Europe’s coastline
St. Petersburg
500 miles
Ust-Luga
500 km
Russia
North
Sea
Atlantic
Ocean
Ship deviated
from route
Portugal
Dec. 23, 2024
12:00 p.m.
Last reported
location
Spain
50 miles
50 km
Dec. 19–21
The Portuguese Navy follow the Ursa Major as it passes Portugal
Dec. 22
Spanish authorities check on it after it slows suddenly, but the ship reports no problems
Dec. 23
Ship issues urgent call
for help before sinking
The vessel is left immobile after three explosions in the engine room killed two crew members
11:53 a.m.
Urgent call for help issued
A Spanish military vessel
arrives to assist
7:27 p.m.
7:56 p.m.
One of the Russian military ships
orders nearby vessels to keep
two nautical miles away
9:50 p.m.
The Russian military ship fires
flares, four explosions follow
11:10 p.m.
Ursa Major sinks
Dec. 24
Spanish investigators interview crew
The Russian captain tells investigators the ship was carrying two nuclear submarine reactors, according to a source close to the investigation
Early Jan. 2025
Russia returns to the ship
Four explosions hit the area of the Ursa Major wreckage when a Russian research vessel visits the area, possibly destroying the remains of the ship, the source says
Aug. 2025, Feb. 2026
US “nuclear sniffer” aircraft
visits the scene
A WC135-R aircraft, used for detecting nuclear activity, flies twice over the scene of the incident
Aug. 27, 2025
Feb. 6, 2026
Spain
Last reported
location
50 miles
50 km
Dec. 2, 2024
Journey from Russia
Russian cargo ship Ursa Major loads up in St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga and leaves on Dec. 11. Its public manifest says it was bound for Vladivostok.
It is accompanied by two Russian military ships as it sails along Europe’s coastline
St. Petersburg
500 miles
Ust-Luga
500 km
Russia
North
Sea
Atlantic
Ocean
Ship deviated
from route
Dec. 23, 2024
12:00 p.m.
Last reported
location
Portugal
Spain
50 miles
50 km
Dec. 19–21
The Portuguese Navy follow the Ursa Major as it passes Portugal
Dec. 22
Spanish authorities check on it after it slows suddenly, but the ship reports no problems
Dec. 23
Ship issues urgent call for help before sinking
The vessel is left listing and immobile after three explosions in the engine room killed two crew members
Urgent call for help issued
11:53 a.m.
7:27 p.m.
A Spanish military vessel arrives to assist
7:56 p.m.
One of the Russian military ships orders
nearby vessels to keep two nautical
miles away
9:50 p.m.
The Russian military ship fires flares,
four explosions follow
11:10 p.m.
Ursa Major sinks
Dec. 24
Spanish investigators interview crew
The Russian captain tells investigators the ship was carrying two nuclear submarine reactors, according to a source close to the investigation
Early Jan. 2025
Russia returns to the ship
Four explosions hit the area of the Ursa Major wreckage when a Russian research vessel visits the area, possibly destroying the remains of the ship, the source says
Aug. 2025, Feb. 2026
US “nuclear sniffer” aircraft visits the scene
A WC135-R aircraft, used for detecting nuclear activity, flies twice over the scene of the incident
Aug. 27, 2025
Feb. 6, 2026
Spain
Last reported
location
50 miles
50 km
Dec. 2, 2024
Journey from Russia
Russian cargo ship Ursa Major loads up in St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga and leaves on Dec. 11. Its public manifest says it was bound for Vladivostok.
500 miles
St. Petersburg
500 km
Ust-Luga
North
Sea
Russia
It is accompanied by two Russian military ships as it sails along Europe’s coastline
Atlantic
Ocean
Ship deviated
from route
Dec. 19–21
The Portuguese Navy follow the Ursa Major as it passes Portugal
Portugal
Dec. 23, 2024
12:00 p.m.
Last reported
location
Spain
50 miles
Dec. 22
Spanish authorities check on it after it slows suddenly, but the ship reports no problems
50 km
Dec. 23
Ship issues urgent call
for help before sinking
The vessel is left listing and immobile after three explosions in the engine room killed two crew members
11:53 a.m.
Urgent call for help issued
A Spanish military vessel arrives to assist
7:27 p.m.
7:56 p.m.
One of the Russian military ships orders nearby
vessels to keep two nautical miles away
9:50 p.m.
The Russian military ship fires flares, four explosions follow
11:10 p.m.
Ursa Major sinks
Dec. 24
Spanish investigators
interview crew
The Russian captain tells investigators the ship was carrying two nuclear submarine reactors, according to a source close to the investigation
Early Jan. 2025
Russia returns
to the ship
Four explosions hit the area of the Ursa Major wreckage when a Russian research vessel visits the area, possibly destroying the remains of the ship, the source says
Aug. 2025, Feb. 2026
US “nuclear sniffer” aircraft
visits the scene
A WC135-R aircraft, used for detecting nuclear activity, flies twice over the scene of the incident
Aug. 27, 2025
Feb. 6, 2026
Spain
Last reported
location
50 miles
50 km