Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has accused a Norwegian-flagged vessel of refusing to assist the crew of a sinking Russian cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea, calling it an unforgivable act. The Ursa Major, a ship used by the Russian Defense Ministry, sank on Monday between Spain and Algeria after suffering three explosions, which Russia labeled a “terrorist act.” Of the 16 crew members, 14 managed to escape in a lifeboat.
Medvedev claimed the Norwegian ship, Oslo Carrier 3, refused to help the distressed sailors, a charge that was vehemently denied by the vessel’s operator, Oslo-based Bulkship Management. They said Spain’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) had instructed the crew not to take the sailors aboard, as a rescue boat was already en route. The crew provided assistance by securing the lifeboat alongside their vessel until help arrived. According to them, the weather was calm, and no crew members were injured.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov joined Medvedev in condemning the alleged refusal to assist, emphasizing that such behavior would violate maritime laws. Medvedev, known for his close ties to President Vladimir Putin, framed the incident as part of a broader European pattern of hostility toward Russia, one that he suggested Moscow may respond to with “all means available.”
The tension comes on the heels of another incident in the Baltic Sea, where Finnish authorities seized a Russian oil tanker suspected of damaging an undersea power cable and several internet lines connecting Finland and Estonia, prompting investigations into potential sabotage.
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