Drone nearly struck Zelenskyy's plane taking off from Moldova, Norway's PM says

Norway's prime minister has disclosed that a drone came close to striking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft as it took off from an airport in Moldova. The incident occurred as the Ukrainian leader was traveling to attend a monarch's funeral, after which he arrived in Oslo, the Norwegian capital.

The near-miss was made public by Norway's prime minister, who underlined the seriousness of the situation. The disclosure draws attention to the security risks facing Ukraine's leadership when traveling abroad for international events during wartime, even on routes passing through third countries outside the immediate war zone.

A night of calls over strikes on Ukraine

Before arriving in Oslo, Zelenskyy had spent much of the previous night on the phone dealing with matters related to strikes that hit his own country. This indicates that even while abroad, the Ukrainian president continues to closely monitor developments at home and coordinate the national response to attacks.

No further details have so far been made public regarding exactly how close the drone came to the aircraft, nor about its origin or type. Authorities in Moldova and Ukraine have not yet issued separate statements on the matter.

The episode is a further reminder of the security challenges accompanying Zelenskyy's international travel, as Ukraine continues to face regular attacks on its territory while its president simultaneously works to maintain diplomatic contacts with allies.