European Union foreign ministers have expressed concern over the armed drone discovered off the Greek island of Lefkada, rallying behind Athens at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels as Greece confirmed it will file a formal diplomatic demarche once its investigation concludes.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis briefed his counterparts on the incident, with several ministers requesting updates on the Greek inquiry and pledging support.
The vessel has been confirmed as a Ukrainian-made Magura V3 unmanned surface vehicle equipped with three detonators. It was transferred Friday to a mainland naval base.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Brussels session, Mr. Gerapetritis warned that incidents of this nature pose direct risks to freedom of navigation, civilian safety and the marine environment.
He said Greece would act through diplomatic channels once authorities complete their technical and forensic assessment of the craft.
The Magura V3 is a combat drone used by Ukrainian forces to strike Russian vessels in the Black Sea and, increasingly, the broader Mediterranean.
Its appearance in Greek territorial waters has raised urgent questions about the spillover of the Ukraine conflict into NATO's southern flank and Greece's ability to police its extensive coastline.