Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy faced a dangerous moment this week when his plane almost struck a drone while preparing to leave Moldova. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere shared the details on Wednesday, telling public broadcaster NRK that the aircraft came very close to being hit just as it was about to take off. He described the incident as a clear example of the constant risks the Ukrainian leader faces.
Moldovan authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace on Tuesday after a drone alert, which delayed Zelenskiy’s departure. A government spokesperson confirmed that the plane received clearance only after officials confirmed a Russian drone had landed on Moldovan territory. Two Russian drones entered the airspace that day, disrupting flights at Chisinau airport. Some planes diverted to other airports while others circled in holding patterns.
One drone crashed in a field and started a fire. The second continued into Romanian airspace. Moldovan President Maia Sandu called the incursions a serious threat to people’s lives. The country’s prime minister noted that such Russian drone violations have increased significantly in recent weeks as Moscow intensifies its aerial campaign against Ukraine.
The danger also reached the border. On Wednesday Russian drones struck a Ukrainian crossing point near Moldova, killing two people and wounding three. The attack stopped traffic and added pressure on Ukrainian logistics routes.
Zelenskiy was travelling to Oslo for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, who passed away on August 28 at the age of 89. He attended the ceremony on Wednesday with other world leaders and left Norway shortly afterward. Before the visit, Stoere said he planned to discuss Ukraine’s urgent need for stronger air defence and military support. Zelenskiy also intended to meet companies working on the Freyja initiative, a European project focused on anti-ballistic missile systems.
Moldovan officials confirmed the airspace closure and drone activity but have not publicly given exact details on how close the drone came to the president’s plane. The Norwegian prime minister’s account has not been independently verified. The episode highlights the growing spillover of Russia’s drone war into neighbouring countries and the personal risks Zelenskiy continues to face while seeking international backing.
