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Lefkada: Fishermen Discover Explosive-Laden Naval Drone; Authorities Investigate
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece /Conflict & Security

Lefkada: Fishermen Discover Explosive-Laden Naval Drone; Authorities Investigate

From Ta Nea · (1h ago) Greek Critical tone

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Authorities are investigating a military-grade naval drone loaded with explosives found by fishermen in Lefkada, Greece.
  • The drone, possibly of Ukrainian origin and capable of carrying 300 kg of explosives, was found with its engine running inside a cave.
  • Questions remain about its origin, operator, and intended target, with concerns about the potential risks posed by the unmanned explosive device.

A startling discovery in the waters off Lefkada has sent ripples of concern through Greek authorities, involving a sophisticated naval drone found by local fishermen. The unmanned vessel, discovered on Thursday, May 7th, was not merely adrift but found with its engine actively running within a sea cave, raising immediate alarms among intelligence agencies and military branches.

This is no ordinary piece of maritime equipment. Described as a military-grade drone, potentially of Ukrainian manufacture and similar to models used in Black Sea operations, it was reportedly laden with approximately 300 kilograms of explosives. Its operational range is cited as 432 miles, underscoring its capacity for significant destructive potential. The fishermen who found it towed the device to port, prompting a swift response from the Hellenic Coast Guard and subsequent transfer for detailed examination.

We are not talking about a simple unmanned vessel. We are talking about a floating explosive device with a load of about 300 kilograms.

โ€” Nikos Spanos, retired admiralHighlighting the dangerous nature of the discovered naval drone and its significant explosive payload.

The presence of such a device in Greek waters has ignited a flurry of questions: Who operated it? Where did it come from? And critically, what was its intended target? Naval experts suggest it could be part of a flotilla targeting vessels involved in illicit oil and gas exports, or even luxury yachts. The fact that it was found unmanned, yet operational, suggests a potential loss of control or communication with its remote operator, possibly hundreds of miles away. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining a watchful stance, awaiting a comprehensive report from the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, as the nation grapples with the implications of this potentially dangerous find.

These vessels are remotely controlled from hundreds of thousands of miles away, maybe from Ukraine, maybe from America. Meaning, either this vessel had no communication with its operator, or the equipment with which it monitors the environment was not working.

โ€” Spyros Konidaris, retired vice admiralExplaining the potential reasons for the drone's uncontrolled state and its remote operation capabilities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.