Norway's PM: Zelenskyy's plane almost hit by drone
An aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nearly struck by a drone on Tuesday while traveling through Moldovan airspace. The flight was en route to Norway for the king's funeral and suffered delays due to the aerial incursion. Norwegian Prime Minister officials and Ukrainian authorities confirmed the close call, which a NATO member source identified as involving a Russian drone. Moldova also verified that a Russian drone incursion disrupted the flight schedule.
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- ✓ An aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nearly struck by a drone on Tuesday.
- ✓ The flight was traveling through Moldovan airspace en route to Norway for the king's funeral.
- ✓ The flight faced delays due to a drone incursion.
What changed
Norwegian leadership and international outlets confirmed that the aircraft carrying Zelenskyy narrowly avoided a drone strike in Moldovan airspace on Tuesday.
Live updates
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Zelenskyy's Plane Almost Hit by Drone in Moldova
An aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nearly struck by a drone on Tuesday while traveling through Moldovan airspace. The flight was en route to Norway for the king's funeral and suffered delays due to the aerial incursion. Norwegian Prime Minister officials and Ukrainian authorities confirmed the close call, which a NATO member source identified as involving a Russian drone. Moldova also verified that a Russian drone incursion disrupted the flight schedule.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities in Eastern European airspace amid the broader conflict involving Russia. Leaders traveling near active zones face severe risks from errant or targeted aerial threats. The disruption during a diplomatic journey to a high-profile state event underscores the volatile conditions surrounding international transit for Ukrainian officials.
What is confirmed
- An aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nearly struck by a drone on Tuesday.
- The flight was traveling through Moldovan airspace en route to Norway for the king's funeral.
- The flight faced delays due to a drone incursion.
Still unconfirmed
- A NATO member source stated that the drone involved was a Russian drone.
What to watch next
- Official investigation reports from Moldova regarding the drone's trajectory and origin.
- Further diplomatic statements from Norway and Ukraine concerning the near-miss.
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (11)
- CBS News — Zelenskyy's plane almost hit by drone en route to Norway king's funeral, prime minister says
- Reuters — Zelenskiy's plane almost hit by drone on Tuesday, Norway PM says
- dw.com — Norway's PM: Zelenskyy's plane almost hit by drone
- Financial Times — Drone almost struck Zelenskyy’s plane, says Ukraine
- The Washington Post — Plane carrying Zelensky threatened by drone in Moldova, Norway’s premier says
- NBC News — Flight carrying Zelenskyy to Norway was delayed in Moldova because of drone incursion
- Business Insider — Zelenskyy's plane was 'almost hit' by a Russian drone over Moldovan airspace, NATO member says
- Bloomberg.com — Zelenskyy’s Plane Almost Struck by a Drone, Norwegian PM Says
- Euronews.com — Timeline: How a Russian drone nearly hit Zelenskyy's plane in Moldova
- The New York Times — Russian Drone Incursion Delayed Zelensky Flight to Oslo, Moldova Says
- BBC — Russian drone incursion delays Zelensky flight from Moldova
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