Moldova Drone Incursions
Drone Incursions Disrupt Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Flight From Moldova to Oslo
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Key Points
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Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace: one landed in a field and started a fire, while the other continued into Romanian airspace. The incursions temporarily disrupted flights at Chisinau airport, with some aircraft diverted or placed in holding patterns.
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Moldovan President Maia Sandu called the drone incursions a “serious threat to people’s lives” and also condemned a separate attack on a border crossing with Ukraine that killed two people.
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Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said Zelenskyy personally described the departure after arriving in Oslo, telling officials that he had been delayed and that there had been “some threats against the plane,” though Stoltenberg said he did not know enough to provide further details.
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Norwegian officials said the drone threat directly affected the flight schedule: State Secretary Bhanuja Rasiah said the risk in Moldovan airspace delayed Zelenskyy’s flight, while acknowledging that officials could not determine how close the drones came to the aircraft.
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The Oslo funeral drew more than 20 countries’ leaders and dignitaries, including Britain’s Prince William and Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino, who joined Zelenskyy in honoring King Harald V.
A Russian Shahed-type drone entered Moldovan airspace on the day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to depart for Norway, forcing his aircraft to delay takeoff. Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre said the plane was nearly hit by the drone during departure from Moldova, though Ukrainian officials downplayed the risk to Zelenskyy personally. The aircraft eventually took off safely and Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo to attend King Harald V's funeral and meet with Norwegian leaders about air-defense support.
Moldova reported that two Russian drones crossed into its airspace, with one landing in a field and igniting a fire while the other continued into Romanian territory. The incursions temporarily disrupted flights at Chisinau airport, with some aircraft diverted or held in holding patterns, and triggered NATO aircraft to scramble. Moldovan President Maia Sandu called the drone intrusions a "serious threat to people's lives."
Drone Incursions Disrupt Regional Airspace
Two Russian drones penetrated Moldovan airspace, creating immediate safety hazards across the region. One drone crashed in a field and started a fire; the other crossed into Romanian territory. Moldova confirmed the intrusions forced temporary flight disruptions at Chisinau airport, with some planes diverted or placed in holding patterns while NATO jets scrambled in response. The incidents underscored how the Ukraine war now extends airspace risks to neighboring countries.
Zelenskyy's Departure Delayed by Drone Alert
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre reported that Zelenskyy's plane narrowly avoided a drone near the runway as it took off from Moldova. State Secretary Bhanuja Rasiah confirmed the drone threat directly delayed the flight, though officials could not determine how close the aircraft came to the drones. Zelenskyy himself told Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg upon arrival that the departure had been delayed due to "some threats against the plane."
Ukraine Downplays Direct Risk to President
Ukraine's presidency described the incident more narrowly, calling it an alert after a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace rather than a direct attack on the aircraft. Officials characterized Western claims that Zelenskyy personally faced imminent danger as exaggerated. The lack of agreement between accounts—Norwegian officials spoke of a near-miss, while Ukrainian sources stressed the drone threat was general—left uncertainty about the actual proximity and intent.
Zelenskyy Meets Oslo Leaders on Air Defense
Despite the delay, Zelenskyy arrived safely in Oslo and met with Norwegian officials to discuss military and air-defense assistance. The talks covered alternatives to Patriot air-defense systems and cooperation to expand Ukraine's domestic production of interceptors. Zelenskyy also attended King Harald V's funeral, where more than 20 countries sent leaders and dignitaries, including Britain's Prince William and Japan's Crown Prince Akishino. He later traveled to Canada to continue diplomatic engagements.
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