Articles tagged with "Russia"
Russian ship with nuclear reactor for North Korea torpedoed in 2024
In December 2024, the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in international waters near Cartagena, Spain, after sustaining hull damage consistent with an external attack, likely from a supercavitating torpedo. The vessel, part of Russia’s “ghost fleet,” was secretly transporting undeclared nuclear reactor components—specifically casings for two VM-4SG nuclear reactors—believed to be destined for North Korea’s port city of Rason. Spanish authorities uncovered discrepancies between the declared cargo and the actual contents, noting the presence of heavy cranes aboard the ship, which would facilitate offloading at Rason, a port connected to Russia by rail but with limited handling capacity. The ship’s unusual route from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok via the Mediterranean further raised suspicions, as overland transport of such heavy equipment would have been impractical. Spanish investigators recorded underwater shockwaves consistent with an external explosion and found a 50 by 50 cm hole in the ship’s starboard hull with
energynuclear-reactorsmaritime-transportinternational-sanctionsNorth-KoreaRussianuclear-materialsRussia flexes nuclear muscle with 8,700-mile cruise missile test
Russia has announced a significant test of its experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, the 9M730 Burevestnik (NATO codename SSC-X-9 “Skyfall”), claiming it flew nonstop for 15 hours over approximately 8,700 miles (14,000 kilometers) powered by a compact onboard nuclear reactor. This test, disclosed on October 21, 2025, was publicized alongside large-scale Russian nuclear drills and touted by state media as evidence of advanced development. However, no independent verification—such as satellite imagery or international monitoring—has confirmed the flight, and Western defense officials remain skeptical, viewing the announcement more as a demonstration of resolve than a confirmed technical breakthrough. Past Burevestnik tests have been inconsistent, including a 2019 accident at the Nyonoksa test range that caused fatalities and a radiation spike, linked to the missile’s development. The Burevestnik revives Cold War-era concepts, drawing inspiration from the U.S. Project Pluto of
energynuclear-propulsionmissile-technologyBurevestniknuclear-reactordefense-technologyRussiaBước phát triển mới trong hợp tác dầu khí Việt Nam Liên bang Nga
energyoil-and-gasinternational-cooperationVietnamRussiaenergy-securitysustainable-developmentNhập khẩu năng lượng từ Liên bang Nga Cơ hội và thách thức của Việt Nam kỳ 1
energyenergy-importVietnamRussiaenergy-strategyrenewable-energyenergy-management