National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias on Monday visited the Hellenic Navy frigate "Hydra", which was sailing in the Red Sea as part of the European Union Naval Force (ENNAVFOR) operation "Aspides".

With an attempt to ram a Greek frigate (probably "Lemnos") observing the Oruc Reis by the Turkish frigate Kemal Reis (or Yavuz) on Wednesday at noon, Ankara tried to turn the tables and further its attempts to conduct illegal surveys within the Greek EEZ.

According to the Hellenic Armed Forces general Staff sources, the Turkish research vessel has left the Greek shelf on Saturday morning and returns to Cyprus, an area where Ankara has issued an illegal NAVTEX. Its movement is monitored by Navy frigates, the same sources added.