Greece’s National Security Advisor Thanos Dokos reportedly fell victim to a video hoax by notorious Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus.
During a video call, Dokos believed he was speaking confidentially with Rustem Umerov, a top national security aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Instead, the Russian duo, posing as Ukrainian officials, recorded and published the exchange, prompting a political firestorm in Athens over security lapses and sensitive diplomatic disclosures.
The Drone Incident and Tourism Fears
According to the leaked footage, first revealed by Cyprus-based outlet Sigmalive, the pranksters raised the possibility of another stray military drone entering Greek airspace—referencing a recent high-profile incident involving a Ukrainian drone tracked off the coast of Lefkada. The pranksters claimed that internal rifts existed between the Ukrainian presidency and the defense ministry regarding military operations near Greek waters.
Dokos expressed sharp anxiety over the fallout of any future incident, particularly during Greece’s high-stakes holiday season.
“It is tourism season, and there is increased maritime traffic,” Dokos is heard saying in the video. “We understand the necessities of war, but we do not want the war to spill over into our territory or our territorial waters.”
Furthermore, Dokos noted that Greece is heading toward a general election in the coming months, warning that another drone incident could trigger “highly significant problems” for the ruling New Democracy government. He added that a major diplomatic crisis between Athens and Kyiv could fracture cohesion within NATO and the European Union at a time when Ukraine desperately needs unanimous allied backing.
PASOK: “Resignation is the Only Path”
The geopolitical slip has drawn fierce condemnation from PASOK, which blasted Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ administration for its prolonged silence following the leak. In a scathing official press release, PASOK stated:
“For hours, a video has circulated showing a recorded conversation between General Secretary of National Security Mr. Thanos Dokos and Russian nationals posing as Ukrainian officials. The Prime Minister’s advisor is seen sharing assessments regarding the timing of the upcoming Greek elections—even providing an impact analysis of the Ukrainian issue on the vote—while also revealing details about a mission of the EYP (Hellenic National Intelligence Service) Director to Kyiv.”
The opposition party pressed the government for accountability, asking: “Is this published audiovisual material authentic? Why has the government failed to clarify what occurred? New Democracy’s self-proclaimed ‘government of the best’ has remained silent for hours on this unprecedented breach. The resignation of Mr. Dokos is the only path forward.”
Dokos is reportedly scheduled to address the controversy on Friday evening, July 3, 2026, during an appearance on SKAI TV.
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