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Greece / 2026-05-07-gr-1

object found: sea cave near Cape Doukato (Lefkatas), Lefkada, Ionian Sea (2026-05-07)

/ date found, not date of flight

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What happened

On 7 May fishermen spotted a black uncrewed surface vessel with its engine running and nobody aboard in a sea cave near Cape Doukato on Lefkada; they towed it to the port of Vasiliki, where the Coast Guard and then the defence ministry took custody. According to Reuters, preliminary examination found three detonators; defence minister Nikos Dendias said on 12 May that the government was certain the vessel was Ukrainian, the case was referred to a prosecutor, and Greece raised it with the Ukrainian defence minister. A mid-May report by the EYP and GEETHA found that the vessel lost its orientation through a navigation failure and drifted out of control; Skai reported from the report about 100 kg of explosives and an announced demarche to Kyiv. The launch point, the target and the operator have not been officially established.

Responsibility and limits of the evidence

unresolved

The case was looked at and not settled, or the findings are disputed or have been rejected.

Minister obrony Grecji Nikos Dendias / 2026-05-12 / origin of the equipment

The defence minister said the government was certain the vessel was Ukrainian and raised it with the Ukrainian defence minister, who promised explanations about its purpose and handlers. That is a finding about whose equipment it was; the EYP and GEETHA report speaks of a navigation failure and drift, not of an intended act against Greece. The operator, launch point and target have not been officially established.

Impact

killed
not established
injured
not established
damage
not established

No casualties reported.

Source discrepancy

Reuters and the Coast Guard: found late on Thursday 7 May; in.gr wrote of Wednesday afternoon. 7 May is used.

What happened next

EYP and GEETHA report: the vessel lost its orientation through a navigation failure and drifted; launch point and target not established.

Skai, citing the GEETHA report: about 100 kg of explosives, detonators removed; an official demarche by Athens to Kyiv announced.

Sources

  1. Greece investigating Ukrainian naval drone found in island cave

    Reuters (via Internazionale) / 2026-05-08 / secondary source

    supports: the record, that it happened, the date, the location

  2. Έρευνες από Λιμενικό και Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις για το σκάφος - drone που εντόπισαν ψαράδες στη Λευκάδα

    in.gr / 2026-05-08 / secondary source

    supports: the record, the location

  3. Λευκάδα: Στα χέρια των Αρχών το μυστηριώδες θαλάσσιο drone - Εξετάζεται αν φέρει εκρηκτικά

    Ta Nea / 2026-05-08 / secondary source

    supports: the record

  4. Εν αναμονή απαντήσεων από την Ουκρανία για το θαλάσσιο drone στη Λευκάδα, στον Εισαγγελέα το πόρισμα

    Proto Thema (quoting defence minister Nikos Dendias) / 2026-05-12 / secondary source

    supports: the record, the attribution

  5. Πόρισμα ΕΥΠ - ΓΕΕΘΑ για θαλάσσιο drone: Λόγω τεχνικού προβλήματος στην πλοήγηση έμεινε ακυβέρνητο

    Liberal.gr / 2026-05-15 / secondary source

    supports: the record, the attribution

  6. Προ των πυλών διάβημα της Αθήνας στο Κίεβο για το ουκρανικό drone στη Λευκάδα - Τι λέει το πόρισμα του ΓΕΕΘΑ

    Skai / 2026-05-29 / secondary source

    supports: the record, the attribution

  7. Greece investigates Ukrainian sea drone found in island cave (placemark source)

    AP News / secondary source

    supports: the record