Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced a near-miss incident when his plane was almost struck by a drone during takeoff from Moldova, reported by Reuters. The event occurred on Tuesday as Zelenskyy traveled to Norway for the state funeral of the king.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre shared details about the episode with broadcaster NRK on Wednesday. He stated, “His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing.” Støre did not provide specifics on the proximity of the drone to Zelenskyy’s aircraft.
A spokesperson from the Moldovan government reported two Russian drones involved in the situation. This resulted in a delay for Zelenskyy’s flight as Moldovan authorities temporarily closed their airspace.
The aircraft received clearance for takeoff after officials confirmed one Russian drone had landed on Moldovan territory.
The drone incident on Tuesday led to disruptions at Chișinău International Airport in Moldova. Flights were temporarily suspended, with incoming aircraft directed to hold or divert to nearby countries, as per tracking data.
Moldova has faced multiple airspace violations since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, impacting safety. Moldovan President Maia Sandu criticized the incursions, calling them a “serious threat to people’s lives.” She also condemned a Russian drone strike on a Ukraine-Moldova border crossing that resulted in two fatalities.
The Institute for the Study of War noted the presence of a Russian Shahed drone traversing Moldovan and Romanian airspace for around an hour before crashing in Moldova the same day.
Upon arrival in Oslo, Zelenskyy engaged in discussions on military and civilian aid, including air defense support, with officials like Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Her previous experience includes covering diverse topics such as politics, news, sport, and culture at The Telegraph.