Zelenskyy’s Plane Nearly Hit by Drone in Moldova as Russian Drones Violate Its Airspace the Same Day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane was nearly hit by a drone during takeoff from Moldova as he was traveling to Oslo, Norway, for the funeral of King Harald.

The aircraft safely arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening, where Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met with the Ukrainian leader the following morning, as reported by Reuters.

During their meeting in his office on Wednesday, Støre inquired about Zelenskyy’s night. The Ukrainian leader mentioned that it was not a good night, as he spent time on the phone gathering updates regarding missile strike locations across Ukraine.

Commenting on the incident in an interview with NRK, Støre highlighted the constant danger surrounding the Ukrainian delegation, stating, "This is the reality he faces."

Støre emphasized the severity of the situation during the discussions, describing the current circumstances in Ukraine by noting, "It is a very dramatic situation."

He added that the continuous aerial threats and operational demands leave "a deep impression" on those witnessing the ongoing defense effort.

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In addition to his meeting with Støre, Zelenskyy met with Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide shortly after landing in Oslo on Tuesday evening.

The recent near-miss in Moldova is not the first time aerial threats have targeted the Ukrainian president's travels abroad.

On August 14, Romanian authorities issued three air alerts as Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s Odesa region, with another drone reported entering Romanian airspace, highlighting the recurring violations of both Romanian and Moldovan airspace during such attacks.

Four unidentified military-grade drones tracked the flight path of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska during their official visit to Ireland.

The presidential aircraft had touched down at Dublin Airport slightly ahead of schedule, but the drones arrived at the airspace where the plane was originally expected. Afterwards, the drones circled an Irish Navy vessel that had been secretly stationed in the Irish Sea.

Irish authorities chose not to engage the drones, which were believed to have been launched from northeast Dublin and had remained airborne for up to two hours. Law enforcement officials believed the intent had been to disrupt the president's arrival, as the drones had operated with visible lights turned on in a deliberate attempt to be seen.

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