Ukraine apologized to Athens last month over a sea drone found in Greek waters. The Kiev administration argues that the incident is a consequence of the conditions created by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi made the statement on June 5. Tykhyi said Ukraine adheres to international law and maritime security and is making efforts to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Greece, on the other hand, issued an official diplomatic protest to Ukraine on June 3. Athens stated that the presence of the device posed a risk to maritime traffic and could lead to civilian casualties or environmental damage.
Discovery that sparked tension between the two capitals
According to Greece’s statement, the device, identified as belonging to Ukraine, was found by fishermen off the coast of Lefkada on May 7. This discovery caused diplomatic tension between the two countries.
Tykhyi expressed that Ukraine and Greece share common concerns about threats to international and regional security. The spokesperson said that in addition to maritime security, the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet are also part of these concerns.
The Ukrainian spokesperson thanked the Greek people for their steadfast support of Ukraine and emphasized that Kiev highly values its friendly relations with Athens.
Kiev attributes responsibility to Russia’s aggression
Kiev’s main message was that such incidents cannot be understood independently of the wartime conditions Ukraine is facing. Tykhyi argued that the events create a security risk affecting not only Ukraine but also neighboring friendly countries, Europe, and the wider world.
The incident also brought back into focus how drones and UAVs displaced by the war sometimes turn into diplomatic issues when they enter NATO countries’ territories or waters. The text recalled that such incursions sometimes occur due to air defense fire or electronic interference.
In a separate development, it was reported on June 5 that a Ukrainian sea drone exploded at the port of Constanța on Romania’s Black Sea coast, an event linked to electronic warfare interference.
