The research vessel Yantar has arrived at the wreck site of the Russian dry cargo ship Ursa Mayor in the Mediterranean Sea. Data on its arrival was recorded by the MarineTraffic service. The vessel is equipped with autonomous deep-sea vehicles of the Rus and Consul projects, which will likely be used to survey the sunken object.

The Ursa Mayor incident occurred on December 24, when the vessel sank at a depth of 60 nautical miles off Cartagena. According to Oboronlogistics, the bulk carrier was the target of a terrorist attack that resulted in an explosion on board. Specific details of the incident, as well as those responsible for the attack, remain unknown at this time.

The Yantar, part of the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), specializes in complex underwater operations. GUGI also has special-purpose nuclear submarines at its disposal, such as the Belgorod, a carrier of Poseidon-class unmanned underwater vehicles. These resources make the unit a key element in underwater incident investigations and operations in extreme conditions.

Sources say Rear Admiral Alexander Konovalov, commander of the 29th Special Purpose Submarine Brigade, may be on board the Yantar. His presence underscores the importance of the mission. The Rus and Consul submersibles are expected to conduct a detailed study of the remains of the dry cargo ship, as well as possible evidence of a terrorist attack.

Russia's actions indicate that it takes the incident seriously. The Yantar vessel has unique capabilities for deep-sea operations, which allows for effective search and research work. Such GUGI missions not only help to uncover the details of the incident, but also strengthen Russia's ability to respond to threats to the security of its facilities beyond its national borders.