Ukrainian Surface Drone (USV) Found In Greek Cave

Flag Ukraine An armed uncrewed surface vessel (USV), almost certainly a Ukrainian example, has been discovered with its motor running, in a sea cave on the Greek coast. It has been recovered by the Hellenic Coast Guard and towed to port. Based on photographs shared by Greek media it appears to be a variant of the ‘Kozak Mamay’ (Cossack Mamai/Mamai) type previously known to have been used in successful attacks on Russian vessels in the Black Sea.

Warning: Many of the images used in online media of this vessel are AI altered or AI generated, including on previously reputable sites. I have taken care to only analyse actual images.

The vessel was found by fishermen on the Island of Lefkada on Greece’s western coast. It was towed into the small harbour at Vasilikis, in the vicinity 38.6249°, 20.6052°. The island is on the northern side of the central Mediterranean Sea, an area where Ukrainian USVs are suspected of previous operations against Russian vessels. As Russian naval activity increases again in the Mediterranean, it is being matched by Ukraine’s own out-of-theatre capability.

Ukrainian Surface Drone (USV) Found In Greek Cave

The black-painted vessel appears to have a Starlink communications antenna as well as an electro-optical camera and other communications antenna. It was reportedly armed with a warhead of around 300 kg. Three impact fuses were arranged on the bow.

Ukraine operates a large number of different types of USVs, some built overseas. Some of the diversity is down to continuous development, but it is also a factor of several different units in Ukraine operating USVs, each with different supply chains, and numerous governments and companies attempting to get in on the game. Ukraine remains the world leading exponents of this type of warfare but the Iranians (and Houthis) have achieved some successes, the Russians are increasingly fielding similar USVs, and some NATO navies are playing with the idea. At the current rate, Western navies will be left behind.

Ukrainian Kozak Mamai (Cossack Mamai/Mamay) USV

Reference image of the earlier variant of the Kozak Mamai (Cossack Mamai/Mamay) USV

Compared to the previously observed version of the Kozak Mamay this example has a cut-down forward deck, and reshaped superstructure. However, while many other details are also different, it is clearly the same underlying vessel.

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