Norway’s PM Jonas Gahr Støre says the Ukrainian president’s aircraft was nearly struck as it prepared to leave Moldova following a drone alert.
Web Desk: A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Norway was nearly hit by a drone while preparing to leave Moldova, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Wednesday.
Zelenskyy’s departure was delayed after Moldovan authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace following a drone alert. The aircraft was later cleared for take-off after authorities established that a Russian drone had come down on Moldovan territory.
Norway PM says plane was nearly struck
Støre told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that Zelenskyy’s aircraft was almost hit by a drone as it was preparing to take off from Moldova.
“His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova,” Støre said, according to Reuters.
However, the Norwegian prime minister did not disclose the source of the information or provide details about how close the drone came to the aircraft.
The reported near-miss has not been independently corroborated. Moldovan authorities have confirmed the airspace closure and drone incident but have not publicly provided details establishing how close the drone came to Zelenskyy’s aircraft.
Russian drones disrupt Moldova airspace
Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace on Tuesday, disrupting operations at Chisinau International Airport.
According to Reuters, several flights bound for the Moldovan capital were diverted to airports outside the country or placed in holding patterns.
One of the drones crashed into a field and triggered a fire, while another continued into Romanian airspace.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu described the airspace incursions as a serious threat to people’s lives.
Moldovan authorities have also warned of an increase in Russian drone incursions in recent weeks as Moscow continues its aerial campaign against Ukraine. Moldova’s prime minister said Wednesday that such incidents had increased significantly.
Zelenskyy was travelling to Norway
Zelenskyy was travelling to Oslo to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89.
He attended the funeral on Wednesday alongside other heads of state and left Norway shortly afterwards.
Before Zelenskyy’s arrival, Støre said he planned to discuss Ukraine’s urgent need for air defence and other military support as Russia continues missile and drone attacks against the country.
Zelenskyy also planned talks with companies involved in the Freyja initiative, a European project focused on developing an anti-ballistic missile defence system.
Drone threat extends beyond Ukraine
The latest incident highlights the growing regional impact of Russia’s drone campaign against Ukraine.
The threat has also crossed Moldova’s borders. According to Ukrainian officials cited by Reuters, Russian drones struck a Ukrainian border crossing near Moldova on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring three others. The attack temporarily halted traffic at the crossing.
