Greece scrambles to explain how explosive-packed drone landed in its waters | Greece
Authorities in Greece have intensified investigations into how an explosives-laden unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into waters in the west of the country.
The investigation, in which expert military teams participated, was expanded after bomb disposal experts detonated the unmanned device at sea over the weekend.
Greek defense minister Nikos Dendias said the drone, suspected to be of Ukrainian origin, almost certainly came from a “foreign state” but declined to disclose the country’s identity.
“We know what it is and we know more or less what it involves,” he said, also trying to allay fears that Greece does not have the military capabilities to defend itself against such emerging technology. “We have nothing to envy, we are creating opportunities for our homeland to equip its combat navy with the most advanced drone and anti-drone systems available.”
It is thought that the drone, which landed close to the shores of Ionian popular holiday island Lefkada, crashed when its operators lost control and the device went off course. It was found in a cave by a fisherman last Thursday.
Alarm over its discovery deepened further on Saturday after it was reported that the long-range kamikaze drone was loaded with an estimated 100kg of explosives. Greek defense ministry officials refused to confirm that the vehicle was loaded with ammunition.
But in a new era of warfare where cheap and lethal drones are increasingly changing the nature of warfare, the incident has raised questions about maritime security in an EU member state that is more vulnerable because it has Europe’s longest coastline.
The political opposition accused Athens’ centre-right government of being unprepared to deal with the threat posed by such weapons.
On Sunday, Michalis Katrinis, defense spokesman for the main opposition Pasok party, said: “Mr Dendias told us he ‘knows’ [all about the drone] but the Greek people are not allowed to learn anything about its origins, the purposes it serves, and how it found itself moving unimpeded around Lefkada.”
The official added that his discovery proves that Greece is in danger of being dragged into the war zone.
The small nationalist, pro-Russian Greek Solution Party said the chance find was evidence of a “conscious military provocation”.
Inspection of the marine drone was taking place at a naval base on the Greek mainland where the device was transported. Military sources quoted in local media said experts were examining the robot’s serial number as well as its internal GPS for clues to its origin.
The theory that the target was Russian oil and gas transportation in the Mediterranean was also gaining traction, with expert teams increasingly saying that the device resembled the Ukrainian-made Magura V3 maritime unmanned aerial vehicle.
Kiev admitted targeting tankers used to evade sanctions in Russia’s shadow fleet.
This month, Ukrainian drones blew up two ships in the Black Sea, significantly stepping up its campaign against the Russian energy sector.
Equipped with satellite communication systems, V3 drones can carry explosive payloads of up to 300 kg. Their lethality is increased by their autonomy and speed: unmanned vehicles can travel for up to 60 hours at a top speed of around 80 km/h.
