Greece Set to File Formal Complaint Against Ukraine Over Explosive Drone That Washed Up on Tourist Island

Greece is preparing to lodge a ceremonial diplomatic ailment against Ukraine aft investigators concluded that an explosive-laden naval drone that washed ashore connected the tourer land of Lefkada connected May 7 was a Ukrainian limb that veered disconnected people pursuing a method malfunction — a uncovering Kyiv has officially denied.

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis confirmed that Greece volition record the ailment erstwhile a last forensic study — expected adjacent week — is delivered. Greek subject technicians are completing their investigation astatine a mainland naval base, with a tiny fig of encrypted tracking files inactive to beryllium decoded.

The unmanned aboveground vehicle, carrying astir 100 kilograms of explosives, was recovered by section fishermen connected the Lefkada coastline. Preliminary investigation of the craft's metadata and remaining substance indicates it did not question far, contradicting aboriginal theories it whitethorn person been launched from arsenic acold distant arsenic Libya.

Investigators judge it was targeting a Russian "shadow fleet" vas transiting the Mediterranean to evade Western lipid sanctions earlier losing orientation.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias raised the incidental with EU counterparts successful Brussels, condemning the deployment of equipped autonomous systems successful European waters.

"This vas had explosives, endangering the information of navigation," Mr. Dendias said, informing of the consequences had it struck a civilian ferry oregon cruise ship.

Mr. Dendias had antecedently demanded ceremonial clarifications from his Ukrainian counterpart. Ukraine has denied ownership of the drone, deepening what has go a important bilateral rift betwixt the 2 countries.