One of the first conclusions reportedly reached by officials examining a Ukrainian-made Magura V3 unmanned surface vessel (USV) discovered off the coast of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea on Thursday is that the vessel appeared configured for a “kamikaze”-style strike.
According to reports, the USV was loaded with active explosives and designed to collide with a target, possibly a commercial ship or oil tanker.
Particular attention has focused on the discovery of handwritten notes or manuscripts inside the vessel, an unusual finding given that such drones are typically intended to be destroyed upon impact.
The discovery has added to a series of, so far hypothetical, scenarios under examination by authorities, including the possibility of a provocation.
According to the latest information, an Army explosive ordnance disposal technician removed the detonators on Friday morning, while Hellenic Coast Guard personnel subsequently deactivated the batteries in order to shut down the vessel’s engines.
Speculation has centered on whether the unmanned vessel could be linked to planned attacks against ships associated with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” used to transport Russian oil while circumventing Western sanctions.
The vessel was discovered on Thursday near Cape Doukato by local fishermen, who found it concealed inside a coastal cave with its engine still running. The fishermen secured the craft and towed it to the port of Vassiliki, where it was handed over to the coast guard.