Drone alert forces temporary airspace closure as Zelensky leaves Moldova
Goldlaner.com – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s scheduled flight from Moldova to Norway was held on the ground Tuesday after authorities shut the country’s airspace during a Russian drone alert. The aircraft was eventually permitted to depart after officials determined that one drone had fallen inside Moldovan territory.
The disruption came as Zelensky traveled to Oslo for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, underlining the security risks that continue to surround the Ukrainian leader’s overseas visits as Russia’s war against Ukraine affects neighboring countries.
Moldovan officials said two Russian drones crossed into the country’s airspace. One came down in a field north of Chișinău, sparking a fire, while the other continued onward into Romanian airspace. The drone that exploded landed about 160 kilometers, or 100 miles, from Chișinău International Airport.
Authorities reopened the airspace after the immediate threat had been assessed, allowing Zelensky’s plane to leave later than planned. The temporary closure also affected civilian travel: three outbound flights and four incoming flights were delayed.
Questions over the drone’s path
The incident has drawn renewed concern in Moldova, a country bordering Ukraine that has repeatedly faced the consequences of nearby Russian attacks. President Maia Sandu described the drone incursions as a grave danger to civilians and also condemned a Russian drone strike on a crossing near the Ukrainian border that killed two people.
Moldova’s ambassador to the United States, Vladislav Kulminski, said the circumstances raised serious questions about whether the intrusion was accidental. He emphasized that investigators were still working to establish what happened and that officials had not concluded the drone was aimed at Zelensky.
“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,” Vladislav Kulminski said.
Kulminski noted that Moldova’s airspace is regularly used during Zelensky’s foreign travel. While he said it was too soon to determine whether the Ukrainian president had been a target, he suggested that similar security concerns may have arisen before.
The Kremlin had not issued a response on the incident.
Norwegian prime minister describes a close call
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Wednesday that Zelensky’s flight had narrowly avoided being hit as it prepared to depart Moldova. Støre did not identify the origin of his information or specify the distance between the drone and the aircraft.
“His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing,” Støre said.
The comments highlighted the extraordinary precautions required for Zelensky’s international travel. Even outside Ukraine, the president’s movements can be affected by missile and drone activity tied to the wider conflict, particularly in countries close to the war zone.
For Moldova, the episode was another reminder that violations of its airspace can quickly become both a national-security concern and a disruption to ordinary public life. Closing airspace is a precaution intended to protect aircraft, passengers and airport operations when officials cannot immediately rule out a threat.
Zelensky attends King Harald V’s funeral
After arriving in Norway, Zelensky attended the funeral of King Harald V on Wednesday. He joined other heads of state in central Oslo, walking behind the king’s coffin during the ceremony.
Zelensky departed Norway shortly after the funeral concluded. His visit formed part of a closely scheduled international trip that was set to continue in Canada later Wednesday.
The Ukrainian president and First Lady Olena Zelenska are expected to visit Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney through September 11. The trip places Zelensky among leaders seeking continued international engagement while Ukraine remains under pressure from Russia’s ongoing attacks.
The sequence of events in Moldova, Norway and Canada illustrates how diplomatic travel for Ukraine’s leadership now unfolds amid persistent security uncertainty. A temporary airspace closure may last only hours, but it can alter official schedules, delay commercial flights and reinforce the risks faced by countries located near the conflict.
For travelers and residents in Moldova, the drone alert was not merely a disruption at an airport. It was a direct indication of how quickly violence beyond the border can affect civilian infrastructure and daily movement. For Zelensky, it added another security incident to a journey intended to honor Norway’s late monarch and continue discussions with international partners.
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