Greece investigating Ukrainian-made naval drone found in cave at island

Investigators are examining whether the drone ⁠was ​intended to target ships carrying Russian oil in the wider Mediterranean, a coast guard source said. A maritime security ⁠source said the vessel may have been part of a ⁠shipment of ⁠such drones or could have drifted off course after a signal failure.

Greek authorities are investigating ​a drone boat ​found by fishermen ‌in a ​cave on the Ionian island of Lefkada, police and coast guard ‌sources said on Friday. It was not clear how the Ukrainian-made unmanned surface vehicle (USV) reached Greek waters. Fishermen located it late ‌on Thursday.

Preliminary findings indicate the MAGURA V3-type sea drone was ‌fitted with three detonators, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One source said the vessel was loaded with explosives, though Greece's ⁠army ​could not ⁠confirm this.

Bomb disposal experts began dismantling the drone, removing its batteries, while ⁠divers were deployed at the scene. Security forces will lead ​the investigation to establish its technical characteristics and possible ⁠purpose, a military official told Reuters. Investigators are examining whether the drone ⁠was ​intended to target ships carrying Russian oil in the wider Mediterranean, a coast guard source said.

A maritime security ⁠source said the vessel may have been part of a ⁠shipment of ⁠such drones or could have drifted off course after a signal failure.