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News & Current Events May 12, 2026 at 12:53 PM

A Russian ship sank in mysterious circumstances. It may have been carrying submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea

Posted by Toadfinger

A Russian ship sank in mysterious circumstances. It may have been carrying submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea | CNN
CNN
A Russian ship sank in mysterious circumstances. It may have been carrying submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea | CNN
A Russian ship with an unusual cargo suffered a series of explosions and sank in unexplained circumstances off the coast of Spain, a CNN investigation has found.
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151 Comments

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Error_404_403 May 12, 2026 +1637
Ooupsie-daisy... weird stuff. Who could have expected. Hmmm....
1637
Krillin113 May 12, 2026 +422
Why is this suddenly being picked up by cnn? This was reported 3 months ago
422
somethingbrite May 12, 2026 +253
Weirder still.... it happened in 2024 and was reported at the time ... (well the suspicious sinking part was reported)
253
Krillin113 May 12, 2026 +30
Yes, but not the nuclear parts smuggling
30
NorthernerWuwu May 13, 2026 +5
When you see "may have" in a title, odds are it wasn't.
5
Methamphetamine1893 May 12, 2026 +5
How come I don't remember the reporting back then? Am I demented?
5
d01100100 May 12, 2026 +22
It wasn't widely covered in mainstream media. There was a lot of reporting in military news niche though, with most conjecture being it was likely small nuclear reactors for NK submarines.
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leberwrust May 12, 2026 +6
Didn't get traction in media. But there were reports much earlier (not sure if 2025 or 2024)
6
Fillet00337 May 12, 2026 +2
Yes methamphetamine1893 you may be demented
2
HereIGoAgain_1x10 May 12, 2026 +107
Inflation just showed as 3.8% so QUICK LOOK OVER HERE AT NUCLEAR SHIP SUNK MYSTERIOUSLY
107
TobysGrundlee May 12, 2026 +60
Remember when Trump fired Dr. Erika McEntarfer in August of last year because she reported weak economic data? There's no chance we're *only* at 3.8%. That's just what they can report without setting off The Orange Emperor.
60
ToolTimeT May 12, 2026 +6
Stephen Miller is the new statistician.
6
MaxGoldFilms May 12, 2026 +19
Exactly. I can't believe anyone takes the numbers coming out of the Ministry of Truth as being accurate. >"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
19
HotBrownFun May 12, 2026 +15
Trump meeting with China. Time to ratchet up propaganda on Asian threats
15
fundip12 May 12, 2026 +3
Made some sort of deal too. Makes you wonder why agent orange had a problem with Canada making a deal there earlier this year?
3
rosen380 May 12, 2026 +4
Example of CNN "Breaking News" [https://i.insider.com/534e6d0669beddf17a24be5e](https://i.insider.com/534e6d0669beddf17a24be5e)
4
[deleted] May 12, 2026 +3
[deleted]
3
DialecticEnjoyer May 13, 2026 +1
Manufactured consent baby. That 1.5tn USD war budget aint gonna sell itself!
1
sophisticatedbuffoon May 12, 2026 +242
In unrelated news, a US naval installation reports a slight inaccuracy in their torpedo inventory. The base commander confirms it is only a minor accounting mistake and assures the population that there is nothing to worry about.
242
Gizshot May 12, 2026 +38
IKEA is in stand by
38
Lt_Schneider May 12, 2026 +7
that's an obscure refference xD
7
Throwable-Halo May 12, 2026 +3
God I love being on the outside of inside jokes.
3
Lt_Schneider May 12, 2026 +2
[Refference](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dozens-misplaced-polish-anti-tank-mines-recovered-near-ikea-warehouse-2025-01-10/)
2
BillionTonsHyperbole May 12, 2026 +7
"Just a couple MK-14s left over from WW2. Probably never even detonated like most of the rest."
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DrXaos May 12, 2026 +2
possibly more like for some reason South Korea owed Ukraine a whole bunch of drone parts, and they have recently been delivered.
2
Toph84 May 12, 2026 +2
You joke it's the USA, but China despises North Korea getting more nuclear technology as well and the closer relationship between Russia and North Korea. The damage that sunk the ship aligns with a type of naval weapon only in use by China and Russia. If Western nations sunk a Russian ship, they would have been blasting accusations and hostile retort non stop, but they've being very quiet about it and try to sweep it under the rug. I'm more inclined to believe China sunk the ship to deny more nuclear materials heading to NK, and Russia knows it's China but is in no position to make trouble with China so they don't say anything.
2
Sigmar_Heldenhammer May 12, 2026 +13
Poseidon is a fickle god. These things happen.
13
Oirish-Oriley444 May 12, 2026 +5
Was the sinking intentional by Russia? Did they reach mission accomplished and the sub traveled the rest of the way to North K? uhh... guess it can google for intel.
5
jcar49 May 13, 2026 +1
A negligent Russian sailor was smoking and dropped the cigarette melting a hole through the ship
1
Nerevarine91 May 12, 2026 +339
“What the hell kind of a name is Soap, anyway?”
339
Two-Rock- May 12, 2026 +25
Probably for his ability to "clean up dirty jobs" Lol.
25
ztomiczombie May 12, 2026 +6
More likely he swore a lot.
6
McCree114 May 12, 2026 +9
"I like to keep this for close encounters."
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WWIIICannonFodder May 12, 2026 +514
Kind of reminds me of that unfortunate series of mistakes where Russian ships dragged their anchors and cut European undersea cables. Just really unfortunate accidents, except in this one the victim was a Russian ship. Such a damn shame it also happened to be carrying some of the most valuable cargo imaginable!
514
Zestyclose_Data5100 May 12, 2026 +53
I mean there was a narrative in Russia that the West is undecided, weak, divided, retiliates with expressed concern and occasionally an expelled diplomat. Anyways, why do anything if russian ships sink by themselves?
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Yardsale420 May 12, 2026 +69
Vladimir Snickett and a series of unfortunate anchors.
69
iGoalie May 12, 2026 +235
I mean ... the captain CONFIRMED they were carrying reactors... >The captain came “under pressure to clarify what he meant by ‘manhole covers,’” the items originally listed on the ship’s manifest, the statement added. “**He finally confessed that they were the components of two nuclear reactors similar to those used by submarines.** According to his testimony, and without being able to confirm it, they did not contain nuclear fuel.”
235
Wonderful-Process792 May 12, 2026 +63
Jeeeze. I'm surprised the captain would even have been told. Why Russia or anybody would want NK to have nuclear subs is beyond me.
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Intelligent_Slip_849 May 12, 2026 +108
In exchange for the troops helped them against Ukraine, probably.
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obeytheturtles May 12, 2026 +13
It's better to look it as a broader trend in cooperation, where Russia is slowly turning North Korea into a sacrificial Nuclear vassal state which potentially gives them a unique first strike capability. Their entire nuclear missile program is basically using domestic clones of Russian parts, and likely direct Russian expertise as well. Russia has given one other country Nuclear weapons, and it was a famously bad decision which got them closer to nuclear war with China than they ever got with the US. The only way Russia would be helping NK like this is if they knew they had some ability to exert control over those weapons, and the only reason they'd want that is first strike deniability. "Russia condemns the unprovoked Nuclear strike on these US carrier fleets by North Korea, and urges the US to retaliate proportionally and with restraint." The thing is, the US can't actually turn NK into a nuclear wasteland without also f****** over South Korea as well, so that binds the strategic risk even more.
13
devkdup May 12, 2026 +3
This reads like a TV drama to me. If things are happening as you believe they are, there is no world in which western/US intelligence is not aware of it. There are plenty of non nuclear weapons the US could use to flatten NK if it chose to. The risk is not that US attacks would also hit SK, the risk is the same it’s always been which is that any attack on NK would result in them retaliating with a barrage of artillery over the border into SK. NK essentially gets to use the threat mutually assured destruction that nuclear nations do, just on a regional scale rather than global.
3
hackingdreams May 12, 2026 +16
Russia is North Korea's ally. They'd love to have North Korea as a nuclear proxy state. They've helped them every step of the way, and especially recently with the Ukraine war, North Korea's been able to help them back by selling ammunition. Russia's in the market for as many anti-US proxy states as it can find to fight wars against us. They already have the US fighting itself... get it fighting on too many fronts? That's how you break a superpower.
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Captn_Deathwing May 12, 2026 +3
Pretty sure Russia has been buddy with NK for a little while including make more infrastructure with their border
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doglywolf May 12, 2026 +2
reactors are never shipped with fuel or active components for this exact reason
2
idkidd May 12, 2026 +296
I bet James Cameron could find it… \*”No budget too steep, no sea too deep! Who's that? It's him, James Cameron!”\* 🎶
296
reformedmikey May 12, 2026 +46
Jaaaaames Cameron, explorer of the seas!
46
nickl630 May 12, 2026 +31
You guys hearing the song up there?!
31
Rocktopod May 12, 2026 +20
Yes, we can all hear the song!
20
totemoheta May 12, 2026 +55
"The bravest pioneer!"
55
shagieIsMe May 12, 2026 +8
Project Azorian is one bit to look at. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian Robbert Ballard and the project to find the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion and its "what do we do with the free time afterwards?" is another. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ballard#RMS_Titanic Asking James Cameron wouldn't be too far off.
8
whatyoucallmetoday May 12, 2026 +14
Great. That song just pushed Moana out of my head.
14
BillsWingzMafia May 13, 2026 +1
Or Howard Hughes
1
at-woork May 12, 2026 +1
Fight me Cameron
1
Bolter_NL May 12, 2026 +15
Again? Oh wait it's just old news... 
15
Desert_Aficionado May 12, 2026 +1
There are many developments in the Russia-Ukraine war that don't reach mainstream news.
1
Bolter_NL May 13, 2026 +1
This has basically nothing to do with Russia - Ukraine. And this was actually widely reported 
1
steve_ample May 12, 2026 +255
Probably one of Biden's last Special Ops orders before they'd ever be used against Russia in a long while.
255
francis2559 May 12, 2026 +130
Oh, the event was December of 2024. That seems quite likely, actually.
130
2HDFloppyDisk May 12, 2026 +164
I'd take grandpa over old man poopie pants any day at this point
164
Spiritual-Pear-1349 May 12, 2026 +70
Donald 'shit his pants on national television' Trump
70
PoppinfreshOG May 12, 2026 +32
Donald “mentioned in the Epstein files 38,000 times” Trump
32
Dancing_Decker May 12, 2026 +4
Skip the niceties. It's Donald "child rapist and murderer" Trump
4
zosolm May 12, 2026 +12
That was an amazing television moment, unbelievable but somehow still not surprising because it's Trump
12
TWIT_TWAT May 12, 2026 +52
Sleepy old guy vs. sleepy old guy who is also a raging narcissist determined to destroy our democracy, our economy and our alliances?
52
Fluffy_Judge_581 May 12, 2026 +20
Also pedophiel 
20
Black-Shoe May 12, 2026 +17
And a belligerent moron.
17
ODShowtime May 12, 2026 +1
Don't forget traitor!
1
datCASgoBRR May 13, 2026 +3
What's f****** wild to me is that he was a known Russian asset BEFORE THE 2016 ELECTION and the security state didn't do anything to stop him, and even pulled shady shit to help get him elected.
3
Lucimon May 12, 2026 +23
Grandpa at least had competent people around him. Orange Grandpa is surrounded by people dumber than him. And he's already an idiot.
23
thewholebottle May 12, 2026 +8
Yeah, Biden had staff around him competent to hide his infirmities and run the entire government in a competent way. I imagine that's common.
8
Lucimon May 12, 2026 +1
Sadly Trump doesn't have the same and the country is suffering for it.
1
Abba_Fiskbullar May 12, 2026 +3
Opa Biden had a cabinet of incredibly competent people around him.
3
DateMasamusubi May 12, 2026 +6
Or South Korea.
6
GreenStrong May 12, 2026 +10
Other speculation includes that the Biden Administration gave South Korea highly detailed information about what was on the ship and its real-time location, just in case they were curious. Another theory is that Putin didn't actually want a nation on his border to have the potential to develop a nuclear second strike, so he fulfilled the contract by sending real reactors, but scuttled the ship and blamed Biden. Without access to classified data, it simply isn't possible to weigh the plausibility of various theories.
10
DrXaos May 12, 2026 +5
> Biden Administration gave South Korea highly detailed information about what was on the ship and its real-time location, And there is another motivated nation with a pretty good bold special ops org that might also make use of electronics and other drone parts made in South Korea.
5
Key_Marsupial_1406 May 12, 2026 +3
The US did just seize a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the Venezuela blockade.
3
Methamphetamine1893 May 12, 2026 +1
Wouldn't sinking ships of another nuclear state be problematic?
1
U-235 May 12, 2026 +7
We are already in a shadow war with Russia, and have been for years, arguably even before 2022. They hack our shit every single day. They give Iran intel to help kill US military personal every single day. They are out there destroying our undersea cables at this very moment. Unless you think Russia was gonna start a nuclear war over this, they have already been hitting us with everything they have. There is no incentive to not f*** their shit up.
7
Methamphetamine1893 May 12, 2026 +1
Thanks U-235
1
Not_Sure__Camacho May 12, 2026 +66
Trump also allowed Russian ships to move past their blockade of Cuba.....  
66
Top_Willow_9953 May 12, 2026 +26
Paywall - subscribers only 😒
26
radicalgamingHD May 12, 2026 +26
[you’re welcome.](https://byebyepaywall.com/en/)
26
Ziograffiato May 12, 2026 +21
[you’re welcomer](https://archive.ph/6DNXw)
21
radicalgamingHD May 12, 2026 +9
I like to show people the first link so they know how to do it in the future. Thanks anyways
9
Ziograffiato May 12, 2026 +5
Teach a man to fish. I respect that.
5
FlexboneFTW May 12, 2026 +1
Thank you for showing me something I didn't bookmark and have no interest in using down the line.
1
radicalgamingHD May 12, 2026 +4
Sarcasm? I’m assuming it is…
4
FlexboneFTW May 12, 2026 +1
No, I was serious. I'd heard about such methods but never really went looking for one.
1
Top_Willow_9953 May 12, 2026 +1
TIL - Thank you! It also turns out that Firefox's reader mode works as well.
1
CptnJarJar May 12, 2026 +12
I mean I know it probably would take longer but wouldn’t it make more sense to ship something like that over land within your own boarders?
12
PaterPoempel May 12, 2026 +11
The parts were far too large to transport them by train to north korea. The shipment even included a crane, as NK didn't have anything suitable to unload them. There is also no river network and no road connection of sufficient quality. It's also really far from european side of Russia, where the parts were produced, to the border with NK. With typical road speeds of a few km a day, it would take multiple years to arrive there. And in winter, the north-west passage is frozen over, so it was really the only route they could have taken.
11
Melkor15 May 12, 2026 +4
It’s really impressive how isolated NK is from Russia.
4
greenmachine11235 May 12, 2026 +3
Likely too large/heavy for land transport and going north would be impossible due to ice in the arctic. 
3
Toadfinger May 12, 2026
I would think time would be more important. That it would be used against Ukraine. Russia has been struggling against Ukraine the whole time.
0
New-Finding9358 May 12, 2026 +31
It "may have been"... it might also have been out sighting giant squid, or seeking the perfect spot to experience Debussy's 'La Mer' in 5:1 surround sound.
31
Toadfinger May 12, 2026 +7
It WAS just after North Korea sent troops to Russia.
7
gogglebox88 May 12, 2026 +3
Which recording tho?
3
sonic_couth May 12, 2026 +1
The latter seems to be the growing general consensus.
1
TheunanimousFern May 12, 2026 +1
Maybe, but according to the article, the ship's captain only confessed to the transporting nuclear reactors part
1
botle May 12, 2026 +11
That's what submairne nuclear reactors are supposed to do.
11
thegreatboto May 12, 2026 +5
Working as intended.
5
SeanPatrickMcCluskey May 12, 2026 +4
“Well done, 007.” “You do know how I enjoy going down where it’s wet, ma’am.”
4
RobutNotRobot May 12, 2026 +4
If some alphabet agency did do it, they didn't tell Trump or else we'd have known about it by now.
4
Castillon1453 May 12, 2026 +5
"Mysterious circumstances" \*Dr evil air quotes\*
5
greenmachine11235 May 12, 2026 +6
My guess is a sub launch USV that placed shaped charges. Four simultaneous blasts rules out torpedoes and so do nearby e****** since torpedoes are designed to be fast, not quite so anything with passive sonar would hear it.  It'd also explain the two rounds of blasts, first attempt was foiled by the crew so they tried again until it was on the bottom. 
6
turbocynic May 13, 2026 +1
The four blasts were by the Russians, after they arrived. Presumably they were scuttling it. Note the sentence about the Russians setting off flares(after arriving at the already attacked boat), and the blasts happening just after that.
1
Belerophon17 May 12, 2026 +3
It's those dastardly KAMIKAZE DOLPHINS!
3
Responsible_Bread153 May 12, 2026 +3
Press X to rappel down 
3
jdb30a May 12, 2026 +3
I wonder if the Trump files will end up trumping Epstein.
3
razvanciuy May 12, 2026 +3
The ship in question was carrying nuclear reactor caps, big and heavy, several of them. Costs a bunch, takes long to make.
3
Narradisall May 12, 2026 +3
Sounds like the prep work for the new Bond film is nearly done.
3
McortezLSU May 12, 2026 +3
Obviously it was the rare and elusive mediterranean Iceberg. Darndest things, but hey lets go with that story folks.
3
nerdwaffles May 12, 2026 +3
How do you even get a ship onto a hotel balcony?
3
PleaseBePatient99 May 12, 2026 +3
Would never happen during this administration, Russia and North korea are key US allies now.
3
Toadfinger May 12, 2026 +2
Both Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin have been asked by Trump to join his *Board of Peace.*
2
Mythosaurus May 12, 2026 +3
Maybe next time they just ship them overland to North Korea, since they share a border?
3
Sochinz May 13, 2026 +3
So, it looks like maybe Biden had a Russian ship torpedoed to prevent North Korea from gaining additional nuclear technology and then just didn't mention it? No Twitter posts? He didn't go on his personal social media platform to brag? He figured it was better for international diplomacy and global stability that everyone pretends that didn't happen since it's in everyone's national interest to do so?
3
Automatic-Ad8986 May 12, 2026 +2
Pretty sure this just an episode of The Diplomat on Netflix
2
Toadfinger May 12, 2026 +1
Don't give them any ideas.
1
Stunning_Mediocrity May 12, 2026 +2
I would argue the alleged cargo makes the circumstances much less mysterious.
2
BarfingOnMyFace May 12, 2026 +2
It may also be carrying tons of Swiss cheese!
2
vladi84 May 12, 2026 +2
Now, that's one way to deliver submarine parts
2
amaranthusrowan May 12, 2026 +2
Ok I think I’ve seen this played out in at least three Bond films…
2
Plastic-Ad-2496 May 12, 2026 +2
I can feel the air quotes on this one.
2
geek66 May 12, 2026 +5
I was convinced the US admin would be incapable of this - but then I saw it was 2024, OK, it was the US
5
whk1992 May 12, 2026 +2
Just pick it up from the floor it’s for a submarine anyway.
2
Ninevehenian May 12, 2026 +2
Paired with the new vehicle bridge between Russia and N. Korea, this sounds like a deal they want to carry out.
2
Toddcraft May 13, 2026 +2
Well, they'll definitely have to carry it out now
2
jxj24 May 12, 2026 +2
Maybe the poor ship had submarine envy?
2
doglywolf May 12, 2026 +2
One of those situations where even if it has a giant torpedo hole in the side Russia has to be like Um nope nothing to look at here guys!
2
Tree0wl May 12, 2026 +1
Whoops!, Time for another Project Azorian!
1
Mal-De-Terre May 12, 2026 +1
Well, they're certainly underwater now.
1
TopChard1274 May 12, 2026 +1
it’s an incident from 2024, and the CNN investigation team brings more stuff to light today.
1
antelope_m May 12, 2026 +1
Ok anyone from Greece hear
1
blackfocal May 12, 2026 +1
Anyone wanna go in with me on starting a recovery company to grab a couple reactors at the bottom of the ocean?
1
the_ghost_is May 12, 2026 +1
Probably some deep underwater creatures already took them and are armed now ⚔️
1
themightychew May 12, 2026 +1
Doesn't Kim have an armoured train that goes from Pyongyang to Russia that he travels in when visiting Putin? Feels in hindsight that would have been safer.
1
MusicFilmandGameguy May 12, 2026 +1
The Russians did it, themselves so they wouldn’t have to actually give the reactors to NK 🤓
1
Annual-Reason2970 May 12, 2026 +1
where do I put the nuclear fuel? just set it over on the shelf lol
1
[deleted] May 12, 2026 +1
[removed]
1
BaconAlmighty May 12, 2026 +1
It may have container 430 million plastic pikachu's - how will we ever know?
1
sjimmyp May 13, 2026 +1
This was quite a while ago
1
itsthreeamyo May 13, 2026 +1
Didn't we know this already like a few minutes after it happened? Why is it gaining traction again.
1
Real_Ad6375 May 13, 2026 +1
Trump still gonna be putins little puppy
1
Crittsy May 12, 2026 +1
[ Removed by Listnook ]
1
Drak_is_Right May 12, 2026 +1
Probably the US, but possibly South Korea. Possibility simply a poorly maintained Russian ship sank. Low chance it was Ukraine or China. I do wonder if they could have gotten it working QUIETLY. A lot of early nuclear subs weren't exactly stealthy.
1
Mother_Airline_6276 May 12, 2026 +1
Shit like this is why the aliens don’t f*** with us.
1
Toadfinger May 12, 2026 +3
The aliens don't f*** with us because they're laughing to hard to do anything.
3
abmalaso May 12, 2026 +3
We are definitely a reality TV program on some planet.
3
Kaffe-Mumriken May 12, 2026
I love the engagement typo
0
Responsible_Bread153 May 12, 2026
Sounds like a Call of Duty mission
0
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