Ukraine War · updated 2h ago · 3 min read
Zelenskiy’s Plane Nearly Hit by Drone During Takeoff From Moldova, Norway PM Says
Drone nearly struck Zelenskyy's plane as it took off from Moldova. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed the incident.
How much added context about flights and diplomacy.
11 of 12 outlets skipped it: moldovan airspace violations by Russian drones disrupted flights and caused shutdowns.
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COPE
“This aerial incident occurs as the war in Ukraine continues with waves of missile strikes and impacts on Ukrainian energy and logistics infrastructure, while Kiev’s defenses counterattack in Belgorod and at key targets in Crimea.”
Translated from the original.
Read the original ↗ABC
“The Norwegian prime minister did not provide further details about the incident.”
Translated from the original.
Read the original ↗COPE expands into broader war and Trump-led negotiations. ABC stays focused on the drone close call and offers no extra details.
Drone near takeoff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s plane was nearly hit by a drone during takeoff from Moldova as he traveled to Oslo for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Wednesday.
“His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was taking off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing”
Støre told NRK that "His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was taking off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing," describing the incident as part of the conditions Zelenskiy faces.
Zelenskiy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening and held meetings with Støre and other Norwegian officials, including Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, about the war in Ukraine and Kyiv’s need for additional air defense.
Stoltenberg confirmed Zelenskiy described problems with his departure from Moldova, saying he "was delayed, and there were some threats against the plane," while refusing to provide further details.
While in Oslo, Zelenskiy also discussed air defense with Norwegian officials and with defense industry executives, as the trip took place alongside ongoing Russian attacks described by Al Jazeera’s report of at least eight people killed in Russian attacks on Wednesday.
FREYJA talks and air defense
In Oslo, Zelenskiy met with Støre and also with defense industry executives to discuss advancing a European anti-ballistic system codenamed FREYJA, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.
Zelenskiy said in a social media post that "We expect to see the first practical results," adding, "Protecting Europe’s skies is our shared responsibility," as he thanked Norway for hosting the meeting.
Støre said the discussions with Zelenskiy included Norwegian and Ukrainian industries working to determine whether additional air defense could be provided to Ukraine and whether an industrial solution could allow Ukraine to produce air defense systems itself.
Støre also described Zelenskiy’s night as dramatic, telling NRK that he had been "on the phone receiving news about where missiles had fallen," and that it was "a very dramatic situation that leaves a strong impression."
After the funeral, Zelenskiy left Norway and flew to Canada for talks with Canadian leaders, Støre told NRK, as the drone incident remained tied to the broader focus on air defense.
Diplomacy, pressure, and risk
The drone near-miss occurred as Zelenskiy continued to press for stronger international action against Russia, with El Confidencial reporting that Støre said Zelenskiy had spent time on the phone receiving news about where missiles were hitting.
“Unfortunately, the international community’s response has been very scarce in the face of these attacks”
El Confidencial also quoted Zelenskiy thanking Oslo on social networks for hosting the FREYJA meeting, saying its "main theme was the anti-ballistic program FREYJA," involving joint efforts by Ukraine and multiple European countries.
El Mundo reported that Zelenskiy criticized the international community for not taking a firmer stance against Russia, saying on social media: "Unfortunately, the international community’s response has been very scarce in the face of these attacks, which are taking lives practically daily," as he urged countries to intensify pressure.
El Mundo added that the United Nations noted last month that growing Russian air attacks killed or wounded more Ukrainian civilians in July than in any other month since March 2022, with 437 dead and more than 2,600 injured.
Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he had an "excellent conversation" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said the Russian leader wanted to reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine, as Zelenskiy’s trip and air-defense discussions unfolded.