Greece Files Protest With Kyiv Over Armed Ukrainian Sea Drone Found Near Lefkada

Greece has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Ukraine over an armed naval drone discovered in Greek territorial waters near the island of Lefkada, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported.

According to Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zochiou, Athens, on Wednesday, informed Kyiv that the unmanned surface vessel posed a serious threat to maritime traffic and could have resulted in civilian casualties or significant environmental damage.

“The unmanned surface vessel detected in Greek territorial waters posed a serious danger to maritime navigation and could have caused the loss of innocent lives,” the protest note stated, according to Zochiou.

Athens also argued that bringing military operations into the Mediterranean, far from the active front lines of Russia’s war against Ukraine, risks harming Greece’s national security and economic interests.

“The transfer of military operations into the Mediterranean, at a great distance from the actual theater of war, jeopardizes our national security and causes significant damage to our national economy,” the note said.

Greek officials further stated that Ukraine’s right to self-defense “cannot justify such actions” and called on Kyiv to refrain from similar operations in the future.

Greece says investigation linked drone to Ukraine

The drone was discovered by fishermen near Lefkada on May 7 with its engines running and carrying approximately 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of explosives, according to Kathimerini.

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The newspaper reported that specialists from Greece’s Hellenic National Defense General Staff examined the vessel and concluded it was a Ukrainian-made Kossack Mamai naval drone.

Greek authorities said they ruled out the possibility of a provocation and determined the vessel had been part of a broader operation involving multiple drones allegedly intended to target ships linked to Russian interests.

Kathimerini reported that Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis briefed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on the findings of the investigation and also discussed the matter with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus.