Mystery as Ukrainian sea drone found with its engine still running in cave near Corfu

A Magura sea drone similar to this one was found on the island of Lefkada, Greece, by local fisherman. Photo / Getty Images

Greek authorities are investigating how a Ukrainian-made sea drone ended up in a cave on a Greek holiday island.

Fishermen found the Magura V3, reportedly with its engine still running, in a sea cavern on the coast of Lefkada, near Corfu, on Thursday.

They towed it to the nearby port of Vasiliki and handed it to the Greek coastguard. The discovery is now being investigated by intelligence experts and the military.

Ordnance disposal officers were deployed on Friday after the unmanned sea vessel (USV) was reported to be packed with 300kg of explosives, but authorities later said it was only carrying detonators, which were removed.

The Magura V3 is a Ukrainian-designed seaborne drone that can be used for reconnaissance and strike missions, and is able to travel at up to 80km/n and has a range of 800km.

It can operate autonomously for up to 60 hours and is equipped with satellite communication systems and real-time video transmission.

Officials are investigating the possibility that the USV was being used for drug trafficking.

Lefkada Mayor Xenophon Verginissaid: “We don’t know what exactly it is about, but drug transactions from the coast of Albania are often carried out in this area. The authorities were immediately notified and investigations are underway.”

Another more likely theory is that the drone could be part of Ukraine’s efforts to strike Russia’s shadow fleet of tankers that transport oil and gas.

In March, the Russian tanker Arctic Metagaz was left adrift in the Mediterranean after an attack, suspected of coming from a Ukrainian drone, forced the crew to abandon ship.

Moscow alleged that the vessel, which was sailing under the Russian flag and carrying 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas and 700 tons of diesel fuel, was attacked by a Ukrainian sea drone launched from the coast of Libya.

The tanker appeared to be heading for Port Said in Egypt.

Kyiv did not comment on the allegations or claim responsibility for the strike, but United24 - a social media account linked to the Ukrainian government - teased that the drones were “definitely … maybe” not part of the Ukrainian fleet.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv has carried out several attacks on such vessels using naval drones. Most of the strikes have been in the Black Sea.

- The Telegraph

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