Oslo, Norway – Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced on public broadcaster NRK that a drone came dangerously close to the aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as it was preparing for take‑off from Moldova on Tuesday.
Støre said, “His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing.” He did not disclose the source of his information or how near the drone came to the presidential aircraft.
Airspace closure and flight disruptions
According to a Moldovan government spokesperson, the country’s airspace was closed after a drone alert, delaying the departure of Zelensky’s plane. Once authorities confirmed that a Russian‑operated drone had landed on Moldovan territory, the airspace was reopened and the aircraft cleared for take‑off.
During the alert, arrivals and departures at Chișinău International Airport were suspended. Flight‑tracking data from Flightradar24 showed several flights bound for the capital were rerouted to airports outside Moldova or placed in holding patterns.
Details of the drone incidents
Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace on Tuesday. One drone landed in a field, igniting a fire, while the second continued into Romanian airspace. Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the incursions as a “serious threat to people’s lives” and also denounced a separate attack on a border crossing with Ukraine that resulted in two fatalities.
Zelensky’s visit to Norway
President Zelensky attended the funeral of King Harald V of Norway on Wednesday, marching behind the coffin alongside other heads of state in central Oslo. After the ceremony, he departed Norway and returned to Ukraine.
The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Ukrainian officials traveling abroad amid the broader conflict with Russia. While the Ukrainian government has not yet confirmed the drone incident, the Moldovan authorities’ response highlights the heightened vigilance required to protect air travel in the region.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
