The owner of the Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major, which sank into the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday, said that the ship was a victim of an "act of terrorism". This statement came from the state news agency RIA.

Two of the 16 crew members were reported missing after an explosion in the engine room. The ship was built in 2009.

Oboronlogistika is the ultimate owner of the ship and a part of the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction operation. According to RIA, the vessel was targeted by "a terrorist attack."

Oboronlogistika said earlier that the ship was en route from the Russian port of Vladivostok to Vladivostok, with two huge port cranes affixed to its deck. (Reporting and Editing by Andrew Osborn).

(source: Reuters)