Zelensky Avoids Drone Strike in Moldova Prior to Oslo Visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky narrowly avoided a drone strike while departing Moldova for Oslo, where he attended the funeral of Norway's King Harald V and held talks on air defense.
The plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky narrowly avoided a drone strike during takeoff from Moldova en route to Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told public broadcaster NRK. "His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was scheduled to take off from Moldova. This is the reality he lives in," Store said.
Zelensky landed in Oslo on Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of Norway's King Harald V and hold meetings with the government. Store did not disclose the source of his information regarding the incident or specify how close the drone came to the aircraft.
Zelensky arrived directly from the airport to meet with Store, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and Foreign Minister Espen in Oslo, where they discussed Ukraine's air defense needs. On Wednesday morning, he met again with Store at the Prime Minister's Office.
"I asked him how his night was, and he said it wasn't a good night because he was on the phone receiving reports about the places where the missiles landed," Store said. "This is a very dramatic situation. It leaves a strong impression."
Moldova routinely deals with incursions of Russian drones into its airspace. On Tuesday, Moldovan authorities reported that a drone ignited a field and another flew through Moldovan airspace for 17 minutes before entering Romanian airspace. Overnight, Russian drones attacked the Strokozaitcha border crossing in the Odesa region, killing two civilians and injuring three, according to the regional governor.
Zelensky walked behind King Harald's coffin in central Oslo on Wednesday alongside other world leaders and left Norway shortly after the ceremony concluded.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Russia targeted Kyiv, and in the morning, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported a drone strike on a 16-story building. Waves of attacks continued into Wednesday, resulting in one death and 14 injuries, according to the city's military administration.
