OSLO, Norway — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s flight to Norway was delayed after a drone incident forced Moldova to temporarily close its airspace, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre later saying the president’s plane was “almost hit” as it prepared to take off.
But the dramatic claim has also been disputed, highlighting an important distinction between what is confirmed and what remains unclear.
Zelenskyy was traveling from Moldova to Oslo on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V when drone activity disrupted air traffic around Chișinău International Airport.
Norway PM Says Zelenskyy’s Plane Was ‘Almost Hit’
Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Støre said Zelenskyy’s aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while preparing to depart Moldova.
“His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova,” Støre said, according to Reuters and other international reports.
However, Støre did not publicly explain how close the drone came to the aircraft or identify the source of his information. Moldovan officials also did not immediately provide evidence confirming that the drone physically came close to Zelenskyy’s plane.
Ukrainian Source Calls Near-Miss Description ‘Exaggerated’
The incident became more complicated after a source from the Ukrainian presidency offered a more cautious version of events.
According to reports cited by CBS News and Deutsche Welle, the Ukrainian source described the situation as an airspace alert triggered after a suspected Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace, calling the description that Zelenskyy himself was directly at risk “exaggerated.”
That means the most firmly established fact is that Zelenskyy’s departure was delayed because of a drone-related security incident and the temporary closure of Moldovan airspace. The claim that his aircraft was nearly struck came from Norway’s prime minister but has not been independently detailed by Moldovan authorities.
Drone Incursion Forced Moldova to Shut Its Airspace
Moldovan authorities temporarily suspended air traffic after two drones entered the country’s airspace, disrupting operations at Chișinău International Airport.
Reuters reported that one drone crashed in a field north of Moldova’s capital and triggered a fire, while another continued into Romanian airspace. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu condemned the incursions as a serious threat to civilian safety.
The Associated Press reported that one drone crashed and exploded in a sunflower field in the Rîșcani district, causing several fires but no reported injuries. Moldovan experts reportedly identified it as resembling a Geran-type drone, a design widely associated with Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The airspace closure delayed multiple flights, including the aircraft carrying the Ukrainian president. Some incoming flights were diverted or placed in holding patterns before normal operations resumed.
Zelenskyy Arrives Safely in Oslo
Despite the disruption, Zelenskyy arrived safely in Oslo and attended the state funeral for King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89.
The Ukrainian president joined foreign leaders and members of European royal families at the funeral in the Norwegian capital. Reuters had previously reported that Zelenskyy’s visit would also include discussions with Norwegian officials about Ukraine’s urgent air-defense needs and broader military and civilian support.
The visit came as Ukraine faces continued Russian missile and drone attacks and seeks additional air-defense systems ahead of another challenging winter.
Air Defense Was Already High on the Agenda
The timing of the drone incident added another layer of urgency to Zelenskyy’s discussions in Norway.
Before the trip, Støre said talks with the Ukrainian leader would focus on how Norway could best support Ukraine’s immediate military and civilian needs, particularly air defense. Zelenskyy also said he planned to meet representatives connected to the Freyja initiative, a European project focused on developing stronger defenses against ballistic and aerial threats.
That made the disruption to Zelenskyy’s own journey particularly symbolic.
A president traveling to discuss air defense was himself caught up in a drone-related airspace emergency before he could even leave Moldova.
Drone Threats Are Spilling Beyond Ukraine
The incident also underscores a growing concern for countries neighboring Ukraine.
Moldova and Romania have repeatedly faced drone incursions and airspace violations since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Romania, a NATO member, has previously responded to drone activity near its borders, while Moldova has repeatedly condemned violations of its sovereignty.
As aerial warfare intensifies, the risks are increasingly extending beyond the battlefield.
The latest incident temporarily affected civilian aviation, disrupted international travel and raised fresh questions about how close the conflict is coming to neighboring countries.
The Bigger Question: How Dangerous Was It?
The dramatic claim that Zelenskyy’s plane was “almost hit” has generated global attention, but important details remain unresolved.
Norway’s prime minister made the statement publicly, yet did not provide details about the drone’s distance from the aircraft. A Ukrainian presidential source, meanwhile, described the near-miss characterization as exaggerated.
What is not disputed is that drones entered Moldovan airspace, authorities temporarily closed the airspace, flights were disrupted, and Zelenskyy’s departure was delayed before he eventually arrived safely in Norway.
For Zelenskyy, whose country has endured years of missile and drone attacks, the incident offered a stark reminder that the dangers of the war can follow far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
His plane eventually made it safely to Oslo. But the drone alert that delayed his journey has raised a much bigger question: as the air war expands, how long can neighboring countries remain untouched?
Leave a Reply