Zelenskyy’s Plane ‘Almost Hit’ by Drone on Way to Oslo, Norwegian PM Says

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orwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has said a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway was almost hit by a drone, highlighting the risks facing the Ukrainian leader as his country continues to fight Russia’s invasion.

Store told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday that the incident occurred as Zelenskyy’s aircraft was taking off from Moldova. He did not provide details about the source of the information or explain how close the drone came to the aircraft.

“His flight was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova,” Store said, describing the incident as part of the reality Zelenskyy faces while leading Ukraine during the war.

Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V. The Ukrainian president joined other European leaders and officials at the ceremony as Norway bid farewell to its monarch.

The reported drone incident comes amid continued Russian attacks on Ukraine and growing concern about the conflict’s potential to affect neighbouring countries. Ukrainian regional officials said on Wednesday that at least eight people had been killed in Russian attacks, including in areas near the Ukraine-Moldova border and in southeastern Ukraine.

Zelenskyy and store discuss European air Defense

During his visit to Oslo, Zelenskyy met with Store for talks that also included defence industry executives. Discussions focused on efforts to develop a European anti-ballistic defence system known by the codename FREYJA.

The programme aims to advance cooperation between European governments and defence companies on strengthening the continent’s ability to protect its airspace from missile and other aerial threats.

Zelenskyy said the discussions concentrated on dividing responsibilities between governments and defence companies and establishing the steps needed to deliver the programme’s first practical results.

“We expect to see the first practical results,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post, thanking Norway for hosting the meeting and partners for their willingness to cooperate.

He described the protection of European skies as a shared responsibility, underlining Ukraine’s continued push for stronger air-defence capabilities as Russian missile and drone attacks remain a major threat.

The talks also demonstrate the increasingly close defence relationship between Ukraine and its European partners. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has relied heavily on Western military and political support, including air-defence systems designed to protect cities, infrastructure and military facilities.

The reported incident involving Zelenskyy’s aircraft adds another dimension to the security challenges surrounding the Ukrainian president’s international travel. However, Store did not provide enough information to establish the identity of the drone, whether it was connected to the war in Ukraine, or whether it posed a deliberate threat to the aircraft.

Drone attacks highlight wider regional risks

The reported near-miss came as Ukraine continued to face attacks from Russian forces. Ukrainian officials said at least eight people were killed in strikes on Wednesday, including victims in areas close to the border with Moldova.

The location of the reported incident involving Zelenskyy’s aircraft is particularly significant because Moldova borders Ukraine and lies close to the wider conflict zone. The war has repeatedly raised concerns about the possibility of drones and other military activity affecting neighbouring countries.

The Ukrainian president’s presence in Norway also underscored the importance of European solidarity with Kyiv. His meeting with Store and defence industry representatives focused not only on Ukraine’s immediate security needs but also on broader European efforts to strengthen air and missile defence.

For Zelenskyy, international travel has become an important part of efforts to maintain diplomatic support for Ukraine, secure military assistance and encourage greater cooperation among European countries. At the same time, the reported drone incident illustrates the security risks surrounding those diplomatic activities.

Store’s statement did not indicate that Zelenskyy’s aircraft suffered any damage or that anyone aboard the plane was injured. Nor did the Norwegian prime minister give further information about the drone’s trajectory or what action, if any, was taken in response to the incident.

The Ukrainian president continued his scheduled activities in Oslo after arriving safely in Norway and took part in the funeral events for King Harald V.

His meeting with Norwegian officials subsequently turned to the longer-term challenge of protecting European airspace, with Ukraine seeking to work alongside European governments and defence companies on the FREYJA programme.

As the war continues into its fifth year, drone and missile attacks remain among the most significant threats facing Ukraine. The reported incident involving Zelenskyy’s aircraft serves as a reminder that the security risks created by the conflict extend beyond the battlefield and can follow Ukrainian leaders even during international diplomatic missions.

(Source: Aljazeera English)