Ukraine Apologizes to Greece for Drone Incident Near Lefkada, Cites Russian Aggression

Kyiv has issued an official apology to Greece following the detection of a Ukrainian sea drone near the island of Lefkada, which prompted strong diplomatic reactions from Athens. The apology was conveyed through a statement by Georgiy Tikhiy, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on social media.

Greece had formally protested the incident, submitting demarches to both the Ukrainian embassy in Athens and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv. Athens emphasized that the sea drone posed significant navigation safety risks in the Ionian Sea and could have resulted in casualties or severe environmental pollution had it collided with anything.

In its official statement, Kyiv attributed the incident to the exceptional circumstances and security challenges stemming from the continuous Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Ukrainian side expressed profound gratitude to Greece and the Greek people for their unwavering support since the outset of the full-scale invasion.

"The Ukrainian side expresses its apologies for the incident, emphasizing that it was a result of the circumstances caused by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine," the statement read. Kyiv further noted that such situations highlight how military operations pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the shipping lanes of friendly neighboring countries. Ukraine affirmed its commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future and to further strengthening bilateral relations.

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The Ukrainian side expresses its apologies for the incident, emphasizing that it was a result of the circumstances caused by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.