Ukraine has apologized to Greece almost a month after a Ukrainian naval drone was discovered in Greek territorial waters and after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Athens submitted two protests on this issue.
Magura V5 naval drone found on the coast of Lefkada island/PHOTO:X
“Following the incident with a maritime drone found near the Greek island of Lefkada, the Ukrainian side expresses its gratitude to Greece and the Greek people for their steadfast support to our country since the first days of Russia's large-scale invasion. Ukraine highly values its friendly relations with Greece“, the spokesman wrote on X, News writes.
“Since the current challenges to international and regional security, especially maritime security and the activities of Russia's “ghost fleet”, are common concerns for Greece and Ukraine, Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to the norms of international law and the principles of civil navigation safety, emphasizing its interest in preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.” declared Tîhîi.
“In this sense, the Ukrainian side expresses its apologies for the incident, emphasizing that it was the result of the circumstances caused by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine”, says the representative of the Ukrainian MFA.
He added that the incident “proves that Russia's continuous aggression against Ukraine is a threat not only to our country, but also to neighboring and friendly states, to Europe and to the whole world”.
“Ukraine remains committed, together with Greece, to the deepening of friendly relations between the two countries and to the development of a constructive dialogue in all areas of mutual interest”, emphasized the spokesperson.
The drone was discovered on May 7 by fishermen in the waters off the southern part of the island of Lefkada, in the Ionian Sea. This was handed over to the Hellenic Coast Guard, which subsequently opened an investigation. The drone was later identified as a Magura V5 unmanned naval craft.
The position of the Greek MFA
Greek media reported that Athens sent both verbal and written protests to the Ukrainian Embassy in Athens and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in Kyiv. Greek officials said on Thursday that Kiev had not yet responded to the issues raised either directly by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis or through official diplomatic approaches.
Greece highlighted four main concerns, according to ekathimerini.com.
First, it argued that the activity of an unmanned surface vessel near the island of Lefkada amounted to the transfer of military operations to the Mediterranean Sea, far from the actual front line, creating risks for Greece's national security and economy.
The discovery of a Ukrainian naval drone in Greece raises fears of the spread of hybrid warfare in the Mediterranean. Drones are also scaring Ukraine's Baltic Sea friends
Second, Athens asserted that the drone's presence in Greek territorial waters endangered maritime traffic and could have caused civilian casualties as well as major environmental damage.
Thirdly, Greece stated that Ukraine's right to self-defense, although fully respected, cannot serve as justification for such actions.
Fourth, Athens expressed its firm opposition and called on Ukraine to refrain from similar actions and what it described as the unjustified transfer of military operations to the Mediterranean.
The spokeswoman of the Greek MFA reiterated Greece's support for the efforts to obtain a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, for the observance of international law and national sovereignty.
She added: “Greece supports the cessation of hostilities. And, as the Foreign Minister said, a war does not end by expanding it.”
A maritime drone exploded in Romania on Friday
A marine drone discovered on Friday morning in the Port of Constanța self-detonated around 10:30 a.m., the explosion being heard several kilometers away. The incident triggered a large-scale mobilization of the authorities, who activated the Red Intervention Plan and secured the area, with tourists from several seaside resorts being evacuated for several hours.
According to the Department for Emergency Situations, approximately 80 firefighters from the ISU Constanța, eight special fire engines, 11 SMURD crews, three special vehicles for transporting multiple victims, a CBRN crew, teams of divers and mobile intensive therapy units were mobilized to the scene. About 20 gendarmes, 35 policemen and 42 border guards also intervened.
A SMURD helicopter and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Tulcea base were taken up in the air to monitor the area. In parallel, structures of the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Ministry of National Defense participated in the operations to manage the situation and secure the perimeter.
The Naval Forces of Ukraine said that the drone belonged to them and that it had arrived near the coast of Romania after being affected by Russian military jamming systems during a mission in the Black Sea.
President Nicușor Dan announced that he will have a meeting with the responsible institutions on Saturday to analyze the circumstances of the explosion of the maritime drone in Constanța Port and rejects the idea that the drone was specifically directed towards Romania.
President Nicușor Dan stated, on Friday, that the marine drones that exploded in the Constanța Port area represent “a direct consequence of Russia's war against Ukraine”. The head of state stated that all four devices self-detonated.
