Greece outraged over sea drone near its coast - Ukraine responds
Photo: Magura V3 drone (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias warned about a threat to shipping after a sea drone was discovered near the country’s coast, while Ukraine urged officials not to jump to conclusions, the Associated Press reports.
According to Dendias, the explosive-laden sea drone found near the island of Lefkada last week was allegedly of Ukrainian origin.
"We have certainty now that it is a Ukrainian USV," the Greek Defense Minister said during a meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels.
He described the incident as an "extremely serious issue" and stressed that the presence of such a drone creates risks for shipping security in the Mediterranean Sea.
"You understand that the presence of that USV — the drone, the sea drone — affects the freedom of navigation and affects also the security of navigation," Dendias stressed.
Greek officials suggested that the drone’s characteristics resemble Ukrainian Magura-type naval drones, which Ukraine has used to strike Russian ships in the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s response
At the same time, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it has no confirmation regarding the origin of the drone that was found.
"As of now, the Ukrainian side has no information about the drone found in Greece. There is no evidence linking it to Ukrainian naval drone operators," Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said.
He added that Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the Greek side to clarify all circumstances surrounding the incident if Athens submits a corresponding request.
On May 7, a fisherman discovered a sea drone inside a coastal cave near the Greek island of Lefkada and towed it to port. The device was later transported to a naval base, while the explosives it may have been carrying were destroyed.
A representative of Greece’s Ministry of National Defence stated that the drone was allegedly identified as a Ukrainian Magura V3 naval drone.
