Greece Says Attack Sea Drone Found on Island Is Ukrainian, Calls Incident ‘Extremely Serious’

Authorities in Greece have reaffirmed that a Ukrainian-built Magura-type sea drone discovered on Lefkada Island is a serious maritime security concern, with Defence Minister Nikos Dendias calling it an “extremely serious issue” affecting navigation safety .

The unmanned surface vessel was found on May 7 by a fisherman inside a coastal cave and later towed near a harbour before being moved to a Greek naval inspection and demolition facility , where explosive components were safely neutralised and the craft examined by military experts.

Greek assessments indicate the object likely belongs to the Magura-class Ukrainian naval drone family , used in Ukraine’s operations against Russian naval and energy-linked maritime targets. While early reports suggested explosives on board, later technical reviews indicate uncertainty over a full warhead, though the platform is capable of carrying one.

Investigators are examining whether the drone reached Greek waters due to a technical malfunction, loss of navigation control, or unintended drift after an incomplete mission . Officials said it may have moved uncontrollably before entering a coastal cave , posing a risk to civilian vessels in the busy Ionian Sea route.

Speaking in Brussels, Dendias said Greece had strong confirmation of Ukrainian origin and warned the incident threatens freedom of navigation in key Mediterranean shipping lanes . The issue has been raised at EU level amid concerns about spillover risks from the Russia–Ukraine war across NATO and EU maritime zones , particularly along the eastern flank.

Ukrainian authorities have not responded, while EU officials await full technical verification of navigation systems and payload data before conclusions are drawn. Analysts are also considering scenarios including malfunction, drift, or off-course deployment linked to wider maritime operations.

The incident has intensified calls within Europe for stronger maritime surveillance across busy sea routes in the Mediterranean.