A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Norway was caught up in a drone alert while departing from Moldova, prompting a temporary closure of Moldovan airspace and delaying the flight.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the aircraft was “almost hit” by a drone while taking off from Moldova on Tuesday. However, the Ukrainian presidential office later offered a more cautious account, saying the danger to Zelenskyy’s aircraft had been overstated. 

Zelenskyy was travelling to Oslo for the state funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, which was held on Wednesday.

Moldova Closed Airspace After Drone Alert

The incident occurred at Chișinău International Airport, where Zelenskyy’s aircraft was preparing to depart for Norway.

Moldovan authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace after a drone entered the area. The aircraft carrying Zelenskyy was subsequently cleared for departure after authorities determined that the drone had come down in Moldova. 

Moldovan officials said two Russian drones had entered Moldovan airspace. One crashed in the country, while another continued into Romanian airspace. The incident led to delays affecting several flights. 

Drone Crashed Around 160 Km From Airport

According to reports, the drone involved in the incident eventually crashed near Mihăileni Vechi in Moldova, around 160 kilometres from Chișinău International Airport.

The crash caused fires but no injuries were reported. The drone had reportedly crossed into Romanian airspace before returning to Moldova, where it was eventually tracked and lost. 

Moldovan authorities identified the aircraft as resembling a Russian Geran-type drone, a designation commonly associated with the Shahed family of attack drones used by Russia in the war against Ukraine. 

Norway PM Says Plane Was Nearly Hit

Støre disclosed the incident while speaking to Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.

He said Zelenskyy’s flight was almost hit by a drone during takeoff and described the episode as part of the security reality surrounding the Ukrainian president.

However, Støre did not provide details about how close the drone came to the aircraft or identify the source of his information. 

A Ukrainian presidential source subsequently gave a more restrained description, saying the incident involved an airspace alert after a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace. The source reportedly described the suggestion that Zelenskyy was directly at risk as exaggerated.

Therefore, while the drone alert disrupted Zelenskyy’s journey, it has not been independently established that the drone was deliberately targeting his aircraft.

Moldova Condemns Drone Incursion

Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the drone incursion, describing violations of Moldovan airspace as a threat to public safety.

The incident came amid continued Russian drone and missile attacks connected to the war in Ukraine. Russian drones have previously entered or fallen in the territory of Moldova and neighbouring Romania, raising concerns about the conflict spilling into neighbouring countries. 

Moldova also condemned a separate Russian drone attack near its border with Ukraine that killed two people.

Zelenskyy Attended King Harald’s Funeral

Despite the disruption, Zelenskyy reached Oslo and attended the funeral of King Harald V on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian president joined other international leaders and members of European royal families at the ceremony. More than 20 countries were represented at the funeral, which marked the end of the national mourning period following Harald’s death at the age of 89. 

During his visit, Zelenskyy also met Støre and defence-industry representatives to discuss European air-defence cooperation and the FREYJA anti-ballistic programme. 

Incident Highlights Growing Airspace Risks

The episode underscores the growing risks faced by civilian and government aircraft operating near the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The drone involved crossed multiple national airspaces before crashing in Moldova, according to authorities and tracking reports. The incident also highlights the challenges faced by countries such as Moldova and Romania, which are not parties to the war but have repeatedly had to respond to drone incursions linked to the conflict. 

For now, there is no confirmed evidence that the drone was intentionally targeting Zelenskyy’s aircraft. The confirmed elements are the drone incursion, the temporary Moldovan airspace closure and the resulting delay to the Ukrainian president’s flight.