This is Thanos Dokos, Greece‘s national security…

On July 4, 2026, Thanos Dokos, the national security adviser to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was targeted in a high-profile impersonation hoax. Believing he was engaged in a live video conference with a Ukrainian official, Dokos discussed sensitive national security matters with individuals he later realized were impostors.

What happened

The incident involved a Russian duo known as "Vovan" and "Lexus," who have a history of orchestrating hoaxes involving world leaders. While the Greek government initially characterized the event as a sophisticated "hybrid-type attack" utilizing "highly advanced artificial intelligence technology," the perpetrators disputed this claim, asserting that the initial contact was secured through a simple email sent from a standard Gmail account to the adviser’s office.

During the teleconference, Dokos interacted with what he perceived to be a real-time likeness of a Ukrainian official. The adviser later admitted the experience was so convincing that he felt he could no longer trust his own eyes. The conversation centered on sensitive topics, including concerns over Ukrainian drone activity near Greece and the movements of the director of Greece’s national intelligence service. Dokos expressed apprehension regarding potential drone accidents during the tourist season, noting that such incidents could cause significant political problems for the Greek government ahead of upcoming elections.

Following the disclosure of the call, the incident sparked significant political backlash, with opposition parties calling for Dokos’s resignation and criticizing the government's handling of national security communications. Despite the controversy, the Prime Minister’s office has stated that no classified information was leaked and has signaled that Dokos will remain in his position.