Statements by the Moldovan government after the plane carrying Volodymyr Zelenskyy risked being hit by a Russian drone

The aircraft transporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took off late on Tuesday evening from Chișinău International Airport, after the airspace of the Republic of Moldova was temporarily closed due to the incursion of a Russian drone.

The spokesperson for the Government in Chișinău, Dumitru Ciorici, specified that the drone entered Moldovan airspace without authorization from Ukraine after 16:30 on September 8. The authorities imposed restrictions to protect aircraft in the area, and three planes were delayed on departure and another four on landing. The Ukrainian president’s aircraft was among those affected.

After 17:20, the authorities confirmed that the drone had exploded on the ground near the village of Mihăilenii Vechi, in Râșcani District, approximately 160 kilometers from the airport. The flight restrictions were subsequently lifted.

The Moldovan Government’s clarification came after Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told public broadcaster NRK that Zelensky’s aircraft had allegedly narrowly avoided being hit by the drone while preparing to take off from Moldova.

“His aircraft was almost hit by a drone while it was about to take off from Moldova. This is the reality he is facing,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said.

The authorities in Chișinău confirmed the flight delay without stating that the presidential aircraft had been directly targeted. Zelensky subsequently arrived in Oslo for the funeral of King Harald V.