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A video recently circulating online has drawn international attention and renewed scrutiny of Greece’s treatment of asylum seekers in the Aegean Sea. The footage, posted by Visegrád 24 and shared by refugee-rights observers, appears to show a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel ramming a migrant dinghy multiple times near the island of Samos.
According to Visegrád 24, the Greek crew “ramm[ed] a migrant dinghy 3 times… to stop the illegal migrants from reaching Greece,” successfully forcing the dinghy back toward Turkish waters.
Activist account Parasitei Meteoros described the incident as an act of “state violence” and a “racist pushback,” sharing the video with a content warning and tagging monitoring group Aegean Boat Report, who also posted a statement on their social media account regarding the events of the video.
What the video shows
The footage, apparently filmed from aboard the rubber dinghy, begins with the Greek vessel closing in at speed. The ship, bearing the marking ΛΣ-602, appears to strike the dinghy twice: first a broadside impact, then a more direct hit from the bow.
The angle then shifts. Passengers (men, women, and young children) are seen scrambling for inflatable swim rings, seemingly attempting to use them as makeshift life preservers. The dinghy rocks sharply after each collision.
Watch the video below:
A video has emerged of a Greek coastguard vessel ramming a migrant dinghy 3 times near the island of Samos to stop the illegal migrants from reaching Greece.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 22, 2025
The Greeks were successful as the migrant dinghy was forced to return to Turkey.
pic.twitter.com/EiHqcchfGE
