Zelenskyy’s plane ‘almost hit’ by drone on way to Oslo, Norwegian PM says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy narrowly avoided a drone strike while traveling to Norway. According to reports, the incident occurred as Zelenskyy's plane was taking off from Moldova. The aircraft was en route to Oslo, where the president arrived to attend the funeral of King Harald. The Norwegian Prime Minister stated that the plane was almost hit by the drone during this transit, marking a significant security incident involving the Ukrainian head of state during international travel. Coverage of the event is widespread across international media.

The Norwegian Prime Minister provided the primary confirmation of the near-miss, as reported by Al Jazeera, CBS News, and UNITED24 Media. The Kyiv Independent further specified that the drone involved in the incident was Russian and that the event took place in Moldovan airspace. Reuters focused on the successful arrival of President Zelenskyy in Oslo, confirming his presence at the funeral services for King Harald despite the reported danger encountered during the flight. The context of this event is centered on the high-stakes nature of Zelenskyy's diplomatic travel and the ongoing conflict. The arrival in Oslo was specifically for the funeral of King Harald, a state event that required the president's presence.

The reporting from The Kyiv Independent identifies the drone as Russian, highlighting the continued risk to Ukrainian leadership even when operating outside of Ukraine's immediate borders. The fact that the incident occurred during takeoff from Moldova adds a geographical dimension to the security threat. Future developments will likely focus on the security protocols for the president's return journey and any official diplomatic responses to the incident. While the reports from CBS News and Al Jazeera emphasize the Prime Minister's account of the near-collision, official statements regarding the specific type of drone or the exact coordinates of the encounter in Moldova have not yet been detailed. Observers will be watching for further verification from Moldovan authorities regarding the breach of their airspace by the Russian drone mentioned by The Kyiv Independent.