Greece has lodged a protest with Ukraine over a maritime drone near Lefkada
This was stated by Lana Zohiou, spokesperson for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to To Vima. Earlier, the AP reported that Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias had described the maritime drone found near Lefkada as Ukrainian and an “extremely serious” incident.
Greece lodged an official diplomatic protest with Ukraine following the discovery of the unmanned surface vehicle near the island of Lefkada.
According to the Greek side, the unmanned surface vessel was spotted by local fishermen. The incident subsequently became the subject of diplomatic contacts between Athens and Kyiv.
The Greek authorities stated that the drone in the country’s territorial waters could have posed a serious threat to maritime navigation, civilians and the environment.
What Athens said
In a diplomatic protest, Greece stated that the unmanned surface vessel “posed a serious threat to maritime navigation” and could have resulted in civilian casualties.
Athens also warned of the risk of “incalculable damage” to the environment.
Separately, the Greek side emphasised that the transfer of military operations to the Mediterranean, far from the actual front line of the war, threatens Greece’s national security and could deal a blow to its economy.
The protest also states that Ukraine’s right to self-defence, in Athens’ view, cannot justify such actions.
What is known about the drone near Lefkada
The Associated Press reported that a maritime drone was found near the island of Lefkada, after which it was transported to a naval base for examination. According to the AP, the Greek side stated that the drone was of Ukrainian manufacture and was likely carrying explosives.
At the same time, the AP had previously noted that the exact origin of the drone remained unconfirmed at first, whilst Greek naval experts highlighted its similarity to Magura-type naval drones, which Ukraine uses against Russian targets in the Black Sea.
Greek media also reported that Athens was preparing an official protest following the completion of the drone’s analysis.
Why the incident became a diplomatic issue
For Greece, this incident is sensitive due to the risks to shipping in the Ionian Sea and the safety of civilian routes.
According to the AP, Greek officials believe the drone may have lost control or strayed off course, but its appearance near a Greek island raised concerns about maritime security.
Following the incident, Athens stated that it required an explanation from Ukraine and guarantees that such situations would not be repeated.
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