Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
By Yannis Souliotis and Vassilis Nedos
Greek authorities are investigating a potentially serious security incident after a naval drone discovered off the island of Lefkada was reportedly found carrying possible explosive material, according to Greek media reports and security sources.
The unmanned surface vessel, or USV, was identified as a Ukrainian-made MAGURA V3 drone, a type that has been used in naval operations during the war between Ukraine and Russia.
The drone was reportedly spotted by fishermen inside a seaside cave with its engines still running, a detail that has raised concerns among Greek authorities and may suggest the vessel was still operational or on standby.
Army bomb disposal experts were sent to the scene on Friday morning and reportedly removed detonators from the drone, while Coast Guard personnel later disconnected its batteries to stop the engines.
The vessel is expected to be transferred to military facilities for further examination to determine whether explosives were inside. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the drone was armed.
Greek armed forces are expected to issue an official statement.
Authorities are examining several possible scenarios, including whether the drone may have been linked to planned attacks targeting vessels associated with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” ships believed to help transport Russian oil while bypassing Western sanctions.
Similar incidents have been reported in recent months across the wider Mediterranean region.
In December, the Russian tanker Qendil was reportedly targeted in an attack, while in March the Russian-linked vessel LNG Arctic Metagas suffered serious damage following an explosion southeast of Malta.
The discovery of the drone has intensified concerns over how the war in Ukraine and tensions involving Russia are increasingly spilling beyond the Black Sea and into the eastern Mediterranean.
For Cyprus, the development is likely to attract close attention given the island’s location at the crossroads of major shipping routes and ongoing regional security concerns.
Cyprus has already found itself navigating the indirect consequences of multiple international conflicts in recent years, from energy disruptions and military activity in nearby waters to increased geopolitical tensions across the Mediterranean.
