Athens warned Kyiv: the Mediterranean is not a battlefield

Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that even ships included in the sanctions lists European Union, cannot be considered a legitimate target for attack. Athens emphasizes: no one has the right to sink such ships, endangering human lives and the marine environment.

The statement came amid an investigation into the incident off the island Lefkadawhere, as previously written “Athens News”Greek fishermen discovered a sea drone that looks similar to a Ukrainian one MAGURA V5. The device was found in the area of ​​a sea cave, after which it was towed to the port of Vasiliki and handed over to the Greek authorities. More details: “Greek fishermen “caught” a MAGURA V5 marine drone off the coast of Lefkada”.

Later “Athens News” reported that the version of a technical failure does not resolve the main questions: even if the device lost its course, it still turned out to be a military naval drone with explosives in an area of ​​​​civil shipping. See material: “Drone near Lefkada: version of the failure does not remove questions for Kyiv”.

What Lana Zohiu said

Official Representative Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lana Zohiuanswering a question from journalists, stated that the ministry had not received information about “shadow fleet” And “legitimate purposes”. However, she separately emphasized: the sanctioned status of the vessel does not make it a target. The official text is published on the website Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs: briefing by Lana Zohiu from 05/20/2026.

Translated, her statement reads as follows: “Regarding the second question you refer to, the Foreign Office has not received any such information about the “shadow fleet” and legitimate purposes. However, as far as sanctions are concerned – and we have already reached the 20th package of sanctions adopted within the European Union – even ships included in the sanctions lists cannot under any circumstances be considered a reason for them to be attacked, sunk, or endanger human lives and the marine environment. The procedure for applying sanctions is specifically defined.”.

In other words, Athens for the first time quite directly formulates what in a normal world should be clear: sanctions are not a license for naval warfare V Mediterranean Sea. But, apparently, in 2026 even obvious things has to be spoken at a diplomatic briefing. Progress, that’s what it is.

Athens awaits the conclusion of the General Staff

According to Lana Zohiu, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs awaiting official conclusion from Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (General Staff of National Defense of Greece, ΓΕΕΘΑ). After its arrival, Athens will make official moves at the bilateral and international levels.

She also confirmed that the head of Greek diplomacy Giorgos Gerapetritis already raised the topic with European partners at a meeting Council on Foreign Affairs EU in Brussels. According to Zohiu, the partners expressed concern and asked to be informed about the results of the investigation.

Besides, Herapetritis conveyed Greece’s concerns to his Ukrainian counterpart Andrey Sibige. However, as the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified, at that time Athens did not yet have an official conclusion, and therefore could not make specific demands or recommendations.

Greece does not want war on its shores

At the official briefing Lana Zohiu separately stated: “Greece will not allow the war to spread to the Mediterranean”. According to her, the country will take the necessary measures to Mediterranean Sea did not become a theater of military operations and so that a similar incident does not happen again.

This is the key phrase. Because it’s no longer just about whose drone it was and why it ended up in Lefkada. The question is whether the war between Russia and Ukraine can spread into the zones of civilian shipping, tourist routes and the Greek islands.

If a maritime drone with explosives was indeed intended to attack a Russian ship or a ship carrying Russian fuel, this does not make the situation any less dangerous. Vice versa. This means that military logic is beginning to enter areas where ferries, merchant ships, fishermen and tourist yachts pass.

Editorial comment

Position Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this case it looks not just cautious, but necessary. A sanctions vessel is not a floating target. If we recognize the right to attack such ships in Mediterranean Seatomorrow all civilian navigation around them may be under attack.

What is especially unpleasant is that Athens seems to be forced to take into account not only the facts of the investigation, but also the political mood of its partners in EU. Supporting Ukraine should not mean remaining silent as the war begins to approach Greek shores.

If found at Lefkada the drone was indeed part of an operation against a ship associated with Russian fuel; this is no longer a matter of sympathy, sanctions or political loyalty. It’s a security issue Greeceits sea routes and the right of the country itself to decide whether its waters will turn into a continuation of someone else’s front.

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