A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced a close call with a drone just before takeoff from Moldova on Tuesday. This incident occurred as he was en route to Norway for the king’s state funeral, according to reports from various sources.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre shared details about the event with public broadcaster NRK. He mentioned that the plane was “almost hit” during its departure, highlighting the dangers Zelenskyy faces in his role. However, he did not provide specific information on the proximity of the drone to the aircraft.
Later in the day, officials from the Moldovan government clarified that two Russian drones were involved in the incident, causing a temporary delay in Zelenskyy’s flight as airspace over Moldova was closed. The aircraft was eventually cleared for takeoff after one Russian drone landed in Moldova, while the other continued into Romanian airspace.
One of the drones landed in a field north of Chișinău, igniting a fire, prompting airport authorities to suspend all flights at Chișinău International Airport. Incoming flights were either put in holding patterns or diverted to other countries.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the drone incursions, labeling them a serious threat to public safety. Additionally, she criticized a separate drone strike by Russia on a border crossing with Ukraine that tragically resulted in two deaths.
Upon arriving in Oslo, Zelenskyy held discussions regarding military and civilian support with Norwegian officials, including Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that a Russian Shahed drone traversed Moldovan and Romanian airspace for about an hour before crashing in Moldova.
