Greek probe finds suspected Ukrainian sea drone lost course after malfunction, sources say
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The Greek coast guard took custody of the sea drone after it was found by fishermen on May 7.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM X
- An explosives-laden drone, found off Lefkada by fishermen on May 7, triggered diplomatic tensions between Greece, which claims it is Ukrainian, and Kyiv, which denies it.
- Greek investigators are analysing the drone, suspecting a technical malfunction caused it to go off course and not travel far. Technical analysis is nearly complete.
- Greece expressed serious safety concerns over the drone's explosives and alerted the EU. Athens plans a formal complaint after investigations conclude.
AI generated
ATHENS – Greek investigators believe a military sea drone found on a Greek island last week went off course owing to a technical failure and may not have travelled far, sources said on May 15.
The explosives-laden drone – which Greece says is Ukrainian, a claim Kyiv has officially denied – was discovered by fishermen on the shores of Lefkada on May 7, triggering diplomatic tensions between Athens and Kyiv.
Greek intelligence and military units have been analysing the drone, dismantling it and using reverse engineering to determine its characteristics.
Investigators are also examining its metadata to establish its mission and whether it was launched from a mothership or from shore – potentially as far away as Libya across the Mediterranean.
A security source said the drone most likely failed to reach its target after losing orientation because of a technical malfunction.
“This issue is very serious. This vessel... had explosives, endangering the safety of navigation. I don’t want to think what it would mean for a passenger ship or any ship to collide with that drone,” Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on May 14, insisting that the drone is Ukrainian.
Preliminary findings suggest it did not travel a long distance, making a launch from Libya less likely, a security source said. Another official said fuel levels are a key factor in the assessment but declined to give further details.
The technical analysis is nearly complete, with only some encrypted data yet to be decoded, the source added.
Ukraine has over the past year targeted tankers in the Black Sea and beyond, including in the Mediterranean, that it says are part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” – vessels that Kyiv says are helping Moscow to escape sanctions and export oil to fund its war effort in Ukraine.
Greece has alerted the European Union to the matter.
Speaking from Brussels this week, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said Athens is ready to file a formal complaint once the investigation concludes. REUTERS
