Video conference scam targeting Thanos Dokos, two Russian pranksters posed as Ukrainian officials

A video circulating widely in the Greek media and beyond shows that Greek Prime Minister’s National Security Secretary Thanos Dokos was deceived during a videoconference organized by the well-known Russian pranksters Vovan & Lexus, who posed as senior Ukrainian officials.

Vovan & Lexus, known for the traps they have set for politicians and international figures, introduced themselves as advisers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, recorded the entire communication and later released the video publicly.

Believing he was speaking with Ukrainian representatives, Dokos addressed sensitive topics related to the recent incident involving a Ukrainian drone near the island of Lefkada, the role of the Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP), and political developments in Greece.

In the released video, which some portals are also broadcasting translated into Greek, he says that during that period the head of Greek intelligence, EYP, was in Kyiv for direct contacts with the Ukrainian authorities regarding the incident.

During the conversation, Dokos also said that Greece does not want the war to expand into Greek territorial waters, stressing that another incident would bring serious consequences for tourism, shipping and bilateral relations.

In another part of the communication, he also referred to the domestic political situation, implying that elections in Greece could be held in the coming months, while asking that there be no repeat of incidents that could increase tensions between Athens and Kyiv.

The release of the video by Vovan & Lexus has caused concern in Greek government circles, while so far there has been no official reaction from the government regarding the incident.

However, the Greek government considers the publication of this conversation a “hybrid attack,” emphasizing that the perpetrators managed to penetrate security protocols through the use of highly advanced Artificial Intelligence technology.

According to the same sources, no confidential or secret information has been exposed, while a program to strengthen communications security is meanwhile being implemented.

The government stresses that similar cases have also affected senior European officials, mentioning Polish President Andrzej Duda, who in 2022 believed he was communicating with French President Emmanuel Macron.