USV marine drone found in Lefkada sets Greek authorities on alert (videos)

Authorities in Greece are on high alert and the National Defense Ministry investigates a “mysterious” Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) discovered by fishermen in a sea cave south of the island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea on Thursday.

Th marine drone was loaded with 300 kg of explosives.

The high-tech unmanned military surface vessel was drifting in the sea cave near Cape Dukatos: a black speedboat with a unique aerodynamic design inside a cave, which seemed to refer to military technology.

The fishermen towed it to the port of Vasiliki and handed it over to the Greek Coast Guard.

Μυστήριο στη Λευκάδα:Μη επανδρωμένο σκάφος «φάντασμα» εντοπίστηκε από ψαράδες στο Ακρωτήριο Δουκάτο
Σπάνιο & «απειλητικό» στην όψη θέαμα
Μαύρο, ταχύπλοο σκάφος με το ιδιαίτερο αεροδυναμικό σχήμα μέσα σε μια σπηλιά, με τη μηχανή του να βρίσκεται σε λειτουργία ενώ δεν έφερε πλήρωμα pic.twitter.com/mlm7AlF6R5

— Penny Rage (@penny_rage) May 7, 2026

The specific vessel reportedly carries special sensor domes, antennas and high-tech communication equipment on its upper part.

video

The object has been identified as a USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle), i.e. an unmanned surface vessel. This type of technology is used worldwide mainly for military purposes, such as surveillance, information collection or even special operations, but also for advanced scientific research. ​

Some media have identified it as a Ukrainian-origin sea drone, a “kamikaze” USV Magura V5

The Coast Guard and Armed Forces officers are now investigating the USV origin and purpose of the presence of this particular vessel in Greek territorial waters, how and why it reached Greek waters.

“The question is whether it is a vessel that was drifted from international waters, equipment that participated in an exercise or something else,” the news website added.

VIDEO: Greek Coast Guard towing the USV

💢𝚺𝛖𝛎𝛂𝛄𝛆𝛒𝛍ός 𝛔𝛕𝛈 𝚲𝛆𝛖𝛋ά𝛅𝛂 𝛕𝛈𝛎 𝚷έ𝛍𝛑𝛕𝛈 𝛍𝛆𝛕ά 𝛕𝛐𝛎 𝛆𝛎𝛕𝛐𝛑𝛊𝛔𝛍ό 𝛔𝛑ά𝛎𝛊𝛐𝛖 𝛉𝛂𝛌ά𝛔𝛔𝛊𝛐𝛖 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝛂𝛑ό 𝛙𝛂𝛒ά𝛅𝛆ς 𝛕𝛈ς 𝚩𝛂𝛔𝛊𝛌𝛊𝛋ής 𝛋𝛐𝛎𝛕ά 𝛔𝛕𝛐 𝚨𝛋𝛒𝛚𝛕ή𝛒𝛊𝛐 𝚫𝛐𝛖𝛋ά𝛕𝛐

🔗Περισσότερα στο link#iefimerida #Λευκάδα pic.twitter.com/L0HXmCUfho

— iefimerida (@iefimerida) May 8, 2026

According to the information obtained by news website thespotlight.gr  the vessel was not carrying a crew, however its engine was running, which caused even greater concern and curiosity among professionals in the area.

A high-ranking officer of the Greek Coast Guard revealed later that the marine drone was loaded with 300 kg of explosives.

At the same time, all possibilities remain open, with the main question being whether it is a vessel that was drifted from international waters, equipment that participated in an exercise, or some other currently unknown activity.

According to state broadcaster ERT  there are three scenarios 1. Ukrainian surveillance of Russian shadow fleet tankers 2. Surveillance of Greece 3. drug trafficking.

The issue is highly sensitive regarding the national security and there may be some official briefing.

Minister for Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, said on Friday morning that “it is not one random issue.”