A Russian drone entering Moldovan airspace delayed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s flight from Chisinau to Oslo on September 8, according to Norwegian officials.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre initially told public broadcaster NRK that Zelensky’s aircraft had “almost been hit by a drone” during take-off from Moldova.
Officials from the prime minister’s office later clarified that the presence of a drone in Moldovan airspace had delayed the flight, but said it was not known whether Zelensky’s aircraft had been in immediate danger or how close the drone had come.
Norwegian Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Zelensky had informed Norwegian officials about the incident during a meeting later that evening.
“He told us about it last night when we had a meeting,” Stoltenberg said. “I cannot go into details, but he was delayed and there were certain threats to the aircraft.”
Moldova temporarily restricted part of its airspace around the time of Zelensky’s departure after a Russian drone entered the country. The drone later left Moldovan airspace and headed towards Romania. No strikes were reported near Chisinau airport.
The Ukrainian side has not yet commented publicly on the incident.
