Conflict & Security
Zelensky flight drone risk exaggerated, Ukraine source says
A Ukrainian presidency source told AFP that a claim President Volodymyr Zelensky's plane was almost hit by a drone was exaggerated, after Moldova said a Russian drone alert had delayed flights including the Ukrainian leader's departure for Oslo.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday that Zelensky's plane was “almost hit by a drone” when it was taking off from Moldova. The Ukrainian presidency source gave a more cautious account, saying there had been an alert in Moldova when a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
Moldovan government spokesman Dumitru Ciorici said Moldova closed its airspace on Tuesday afternoon just after 4:30 p.m. local time because of a Russian drone that entered from the direction of Ukraine. He said three departures and four arrivals were delayed.
Ciorici said authorities later confirmed that the drone had come down and exploded about 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport after 5:20 p.m., and flight restrictions were then lifted. He said Zelensky's plane took off later than scheduled for the same reason.
Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening and held talks with Store, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Norwegian military aid, including air-defence support, and civilian assistance.
On Wednesday, Zelensky joined other foreign dignitaries at the funeral of Norway's King Harald, who died on August 28 aged 89. Store told NRK that Zelensky left Norway afterwards for Canada and talks with leaders there.
Update
Moldovan government spokesman Dumitru Ciorici said Moldova closed its airspace on Tuesday just after 4:30 p.m. local time because of a Russian drone that entered from the direction of Ukraine.
Ciorici said three departures and four arrivals were delayed during the closure.
Ciorici said the drone came down and exploded about 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport after 5:20 p.m., after which flight restrictions were lifted.
Ciorici said Zelensky's plane took off later than scheduled for the same reason.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 21:03:14 UTC.
Update
A Ukrainian presidency source told AFP that there was an alert in Moldova when a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
The Ukrainian presidency source described as exaggerated the claim that Zelensky was at risk.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 18:50:40 UTC.
Update
Zelensky held talks in Oslo with Jonas Gahr Store, Jens Stoltenberg and Espen Barth Eide on military aid, air-defence support and civilian assistance.
Zelensky attended the funeral of Norway's King Harald on Wednesday.
King Harald died on August 28 aged 89.
Zelensky left Norway after the funeral for Canada and talks with leaders there, according to Store.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 18:19:20 UTC.
Update
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the plane was almost hit by a drone while taking off from Moldova.
Store made the comments to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 18:04:03 UTC.
Update
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Volodymyr Zelensky's plane was almost hit by a drone while travelling to Oslo.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 17:53:49 UTC.
Update
Norway's prime minister's office said the talks will focus on how Norwegian military and civilian assistance can meet Ukraine's current needs.
The office said Ukraine has a critical need for air-defence systems and other military support as it prepares for a difficult winter.
Zelensky said Ukraine's weak point is anti-ballistic capabilities and that he would have meetings in Norway and Canada.
No press briefing is planned for security reasons.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 18:47:51 UTC.
Update
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Norway on Tuesday.
Zelensky is due to meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on the sidelines of the funeral.
The visit will allow talks with Oslo on air-defence support.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 18:21:20 UTC.
Update
Zelensky was in Norway for King Harald's funeral, according to Oslo.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 18:04:36 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Store's near-miss description is disputed by a Ukrainian presidency source, who described the claim that Zelensky was at risk as exaggerated.
The supplied information does not independently verify the drone's origin or exact route beyond the accounts attributed to Ukrainian and Moldovan sources.
Source
AFP news report published on .