Greece presses Kyiv after suspected Ukrainian drone found near Lefkada

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said “any transformation of the Mediterranean Sea into a theater of military operations will not be allowed.”

After talks in Athens with his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić Radman, Gerapetritis said “Greece will ensure that the Mediterranean remains untouched by military operations and remains a sea of peace, a sea that belongs to its peoples.”

The remarks reflect growing concern in Athens over the maritime drone found near the Ionian island of Lefkada, Ekathimerini reported.

Greek officials view the incident as a sign of rising risks from the war in Ukraine spreading beyond the Black Sea.

Gerapetritis also said the EU has faced unprecedented security challenges after four years of active conflicts across the region.

“The biggest challenge, of course, is preventing the spread of the wars destabilizing our neighborhood,” he said.

Greek media reported on May 10 that a maritime drone had been found earlier that week near Lefkada in the Ionian Sea. It was allegedly carrying about 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds, of explosives.

Fishermen found the device on May 7 near a rock, with its engine still running, media reports said. That raised suspicions that its operators may have lost contact with the drone, which then kept moving until it hit the shore.

Ekathimerini reported that Greek officials have intensified demands in recent days for Kyiv to provide an explanation, while Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis have publicly expressed concern.

Athens claims the maritime drone was deployed by Ukraine in Greek territorial waters, apparently to strike a Russian vessel in the Mediterranean.

Some Greek media outlets reported that the device resembled a Ukrainian Magura-class maritime drone. However, its manufacturer, UForce, denied that one of its drones had been found in Greece.

Ekathimerini reported that Greek officials had initially identified the device as a Mamai-type maritime attack drone. Ukrainian forces have widely used that model in the Black Sea during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The investigation into the device is continuing at facilities in Skaramangas near Athens, where military authorities are examining the drone’s systems and mission data.

Initial work focused on removing explosives and detonators from the drone, which is now being stored at a base of the Greek Underwater Demolition Command. Greece’s Hellenic National Defense General Staff is conducting the investigation. Coast guard officers also carried out preliminary inspections.

On May 12, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said the ministry had no information about the drone found in Greece.