Zelensky Plane Nearly Hit by Drone, Norway Says
60 sourcesUpdated Sep 12, 20261 min read
A Russian jet-powered drone crossed into Moldovan airspace as Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane prepared to depart Chișinău for Oslo, prompting Moldova to suspend airport operations and delay the flight. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and a Ukrainian presidential source said the drone came close to the aircraft, but officials have not established whether it was deliberately targeted or how near it came, and Kyiv called claims that Zelenskyy faced immediate danger exaggerated. Moldovan authorities said the drone entered from Ukraine, crossed into Romania, returned to Moldova and crashed about 160 kilometers from the airport, causing a fire but no reported injuries. Zelenskyy reached Norway safely, attended King Harald V’s funeral and discussed military and air-defense assistance with Norwegian officials. The incident occurred amid intensifying cross-border attacks, including Russian strikes that Ukrainian officials said killed at least six or seven people in Ukraine and a Ukrainian drone attack that reportedly caused a fire at an industrial facility in Russia’s Yamal-Nenets region.
Where do you stand?
How it spread
What each side asserts, disputes — or leaves out entirely.
Whose framing of this story rings truest to you?
try again, as long as that Terrorist Zelensky is alive, there will be no Peace
Norway needs to push harder for better air defenses across Europe before another close call turns serious during the war.
Zelensky's plane dodging a drone right after takeoff from Moldova shows how far these weapons can reach even on official trips.
