Ukraine has issued an apology to Greece regarding the discovery of a maritime drone in Greek territorial waters near Lefkada Island on May 8. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that the drone’s presence was a consequence of circumstances stemming from Russian aggression.
On June 5, spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy conveyed the apology, expressing gratitude to the Greek government and people for their support since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tikhiy emphasized the importance of the friendly relations between the two nations.
The Foreign Ministry highlighted shared concerns over regional and maritime security challenges, including activities by Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which affect both Athens and Kyiv. Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to international law and the principles of civil navigation safety, while also expressing a desire to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The Ukrainian side expresses its apologies for the incident, noting that it resulted from circumstances caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine,” Tikhiy stated.
The ministry believes that this incident, along with similar occurrences in other regions, illustrates that Russian aggression poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to neighboring friendly states, Europe, and the world. Kyiv reiterated its readiness to deepen friendly relations with Greece and foster constructive dialogue.
The drone, initially identified as a Ukrainian Magura V5, was found near Lefkada on May 8. Following this, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis reported findings from the Greek General Staff, indicating that the drone operated on behalf of Kyiv and was built and owned by Ukraine. This information was relayed to European diplomacy chief, Kaia Kallas.
On May 13, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated there was no evidence linking the drone found off Greece’s coast to Ukrainian operators.
On May 21, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias demanded an apology from Ukraine concerning the maritime drone found in Greek waters.
On June 3, Greece sent an official protest note to Ukraine regarding the drone’s discovery, asserting that it posed a serious threat to navigation and could endanger civilian lives.
Ukraine has apologized to Greece for a maritime drone found in its territorial waters, attributing the incident to Russian aggression. The two nations reaffirmed their commitment to regional security and constructive dialogue.