Greece conducts controlled blast of mystery naval drone explosives
Greek authorities safely neutralized a Ukrainian-made naval drone carrying explosives found in the Ionian Sea near Lefkada, raising concerns over maritime security and Greece’s preparedness for modern warfare. The drone, likely a Magura model with handwritten Ukrainian notes, was defused and destroyed in a controlled explosion, with investigations ongoing into its origin and purpose in Greek territorial waters.
Greek bomb disposal experts safely neutralized a naval drone carrying approximately 100kg of explosives after it was discovered in a cave near Lefkada on Greece’s western coast on Thursday. The unmanned vessel, suspected to be Ukrainian-made and still powered by its engine, was later destroyed in a controlled explosion near Astakos in the Ionian Sea. The drone, identified as likely a Magura model with a range of 432 miles (700km), had handwritten notes in Ukrainian and a malfunctioning GPS system, possibly affected by bad weather. Authorities are investigating how it entered Greek territorial waters, with theories suggesting it may have been en route to target Russian shipping in the Mediterranean or lost during transport. Greece’s Defense Minister Nikos Dendias downplayed the incident, stating that the government’s policies ensure the Navy can deploy advanced drones and anti-drone systems. However, opposition parties criticized Greece’s preparedness, with the Communist Party questioning whether the drone was part of an operational plan and if other drones from allies may be operating in Greek waters. Ukraine has previously used naval drones to attack Russian warships and tankers in the Black Sea, though this marks the first such incident in the Mediterranean. Greece and Ukraine signed a cooperation deal in November to produce naval drones, though recent reports suggest Kyiv seeks veto power over their use, particularly to prevent potential conflicts with Turkey, a neighbor with territorial disputes with Greece. The discovery has heightened alert levels across Greece’s national security agencies, armed forces, and ministries, prompting discussions on modernizing defenses against emerging military technology. Specialized teams are examining the drone for further clues about its origin and intended purpose.
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