Fishermen found a Ukrainian Magura marine drone off the southern coast of the island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea, in western Greece.
This was reported by the Greek media outlet Ekathimerini.
The unmanned naval vehicle was discovered on Thursday, May 7. The discovery triggered a multi-agency operation involving Greek authorities and the Ministry of National Defense.
According to the publication, Greek authorities officially identified the drone as a Ukrainian Magura V3 naval drone. However, published photos indicate that the discovered vessel more closely resembles a Magura V5.
Preliminary findings indicate that the unmanned vessel was equipped with detonators but did not carry explosives on board, which alleviated initial concerns and allowed for the withdrawal of demining specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (TENX) battalion.
As the publication notes, investigators have not ruled out a connection to possible attacks on ships linked to the so-called Russian “shadow fleet,” which is used to transport Russian oil evading Western sanctions.
Similar incidents have already been recorded in recent months. In December, the Russian tanker Qendil was attacked, and in March, the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz sustained significant damage after an explosion southeast of Malta.
The drone was first spotted by fishermen near Cape Ducato in a coastal cave. According to them, the drone’s engine was still running. The black drone was equipped with modern equipment, including antennas and communication systems, which immediately raised concerns.
The fishermen secured the drone and towed it to the port of Vasiliki, where they handed it over to the Greek Coast Guard.
In early May, it was reported that negotiations between Ukraine and Greece regarding cooperation in the field of maritime drones had hit significant differences in the final stage.
The Ukrainian side allegedly demanded to retain control over the operational use of the systems. At the same time, Greece refused to accept this condition, as it limits the sovereignty of Greek forces in the event of a potential military conflict, particularly with Turkey.
According to the publication’s sources, Ekathimerini reports that despite the differences, the negotiations are not considered doomed. According to the plan, Greece intends to establish production of Ukrainian maritime drones at its own shipyards. Production will meet the needs of both countries: some of the maritime drones will go to Ukraine, while others will bolster the arsenal of the Greek armed forces.
Funding for the project is already included in Greece’s long-term defense procurement program for 2025–2036.
