Russian drone alert delayed Zelensky’s departure for Norway, Moldova says

Drone alert disrupts Zelensky’s flight from Moldova to Norway

Earthguardiansonline.com – A security alert involving Russian drones forced a temporary closure of Moldovan airspace on Tuesday, delaying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s flight to Norway as he prepared to depart from Chișinău International Airport.

Moldovan authorities allowed the presidential aircraft to leave only after determining that one of the drones had fallen inside the country. The incident added to concerns over the risks faced by Ukraine’s leader while traveling abroad during Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine.

The closure affected civilian aviation as well as Zelensky’s journey. Three departing flights and four incoming flights were delayed before restrictions were removed and air traffic resumed. Zelensky’s plane ultimately departed later than planned for Oslo.

Drone crashes far from airport

Officials said two Russian drones crossed into Moldovan airspace on Tuesday. One came down in a field north of the capital and sparked a fire. The other continued onward into Romanian airspace.

The drone that exploded on Moldovan territory was found about 160 kilometers, or 100 miles, from Chișinău International Airport. Although the crash site was well outside the airport area, the presence of unmanned aircraft inside Moldovan airspace was treated as a serious enough threat to halt flights temporarily.

Moldova, which borders Ukraine, has repeatedly faced security concerns linked to the war next door. Drone intrusions, debris discoveries and airspace warnings have underscored how military activity near Ukraine’s southern border can affect neighboring countries, even when they are not directly involved in the conflict.

President Maia Sandu described the incursions as a major danger to civilians. She also condemned a Russian drone strike on a crossing near the Ukrainian border that killed two people. Her comments highlighted the wider human consequences of attacks and flight paths that extend beyond Ukraine’s territory.

Questions over whether Zelensky’s aircraft was at risk

Vladislav Kulminski, Moldova’s ambassador to the United States, said the timing of the incident raised serious questions. He told CNN that officials did not consider it likely that a jet-propelled drone simply entered Moldova for surveillance while Zelensky’s aircraft was on the ground.

“Most likely this is not an accident because we do not believe in jet propelled drones just flying into Moldova’s territory for surveillance purposes while [the] Ukrainian president’s airplane is on the ground at the airport,”

Kulminski said investigators were still examining what happened and that it was premature to conclude that the Ukrainian president himself had been the intended target. At the same time, he noted that Zelensky’s use of Moldovan airspace for trips abroad is widely known, suggesting the episode may not have been unprecedented.

The Kremlin had not issued public comment on the matter. The absence of a stated Russian response left key questions unresolved, including the drone’s precise route, its mission and whether the proximity to Zelensky’s departure was coincidental.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Wednesday that Zelensky’s aircraft had narrowly avoided being hit as it prepared to leave Moldova. Speaking to broadcaster NRK, Støre did not identify the basis for his information or specify the distance between the drone and the plane.

“His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing,”

The remarks illustrated the exceptional security pressures surrounding Zelensky’s international travel. As head of a country defending itself against a full-scale invasion, he has continued to make overseas visits for diplomacy, military support discussions and international events, while relying on strict security measures and changing travel arrangements.

Visit to Oslo and planned Canada trip

Zelensky traveled to Norway to attend the funeral of King Harald V. On Wednesday, he joined other world leaders walking behind the king’s coffin through central Oslo. Zelensky left Norway shortly after the funeral concluded.

He was accompanied by First Lady Olena Zelenska for the next stage of the trip. The couple was expected in Canada on Wednesday for a visit with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney running through September 11.

The delayed departure from Moldova did not prevent Zelensky from reaching Oslo, but it demonstrated how rapidly a regional airspace incident can affect high-level diplomatic travel. Temporary aviation closures are designed to protect passengers and crews when an airborne threat cannot immediately be ruled out, even if the exact danger remains unclear.

For Moldova, the episode was another reminder of its vulnerable position beside Ukraine and near areas affected by Russian attacks. For Ukraine, it served as a visible example of the risks that can follow Zelensky beyond the battlefield, including during trips intended to strengthen international ties and honor major foreign events.