A Russian shadow vessel that sank off Spain’s coast in late 2024 likely carried nuclear reactor parts possibly en route to North Korea, new official documents and media reports show, raising the possibility that Western and Russian militaries may have played a role in sending the vessel to the sea floor.

The Ursa Major (IMO 9538892) owned by Oboronlogistika, the sole transport provider for Russia’s defense ministry, was sailing from St. Petersburg to a declared destination of Vladivostok before sinking 60 miles off Spain’s southeastern coast after three explosions on Dec. 23, 2024.

The explosions, which killed two of