Oslo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced a tense mid-journey security alert as he travelled to Norway for the funeral of King Harald V, after his aircraft narrowly avoided a collision with a drone while departing from Moldova on Tuesday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre revealed on Wednesday.
“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 told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, offering no specifics on the drone’s proximity or identity.
Airspace Breach Grounds Flights
The incident unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tension as Moldova itself came under aerial assault on Tuesday. Chișinău Airport briefly halted all arrivals and departures after two Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace, according to data from Flightradar24. Multiple inbound flights were rerouted to foreign airports, while others were forced to circle in holding patterns, as reported by India Today.
One of the drones crashed into a field, igniting a blaze, while the second strayed into Romanian airspace. Moldovan President Maia Sandu described the incursions as a “serious threat to people’s lives”. She also denounced a separate strike on a Ukraine–Moldova border post that left two people dead.
Oslo Talks Centre On Air Shields
Zelenskyy touched down in Oslo on Tuesday evening for meetings with Støre, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. The agenda covered Norwegian military aid to Kyiv, with a strong emphasis on air-defence systems, alongside civilian assistance.
Zelenskyy also held talks with defence-industry chiefs alongside Støre on the FREYJA initiative, a planned European anti-ballistic shield.
In an online post, Zelenskyy said the conversations centred on allocating roles between governments and manufacturers and charting steps to push the project toward tangible outcomes.
“We expect to see the first practical results. I am grateful to Norway for hosting this meeting. I thank our partners for their readiness to work together. Protecting Europe’s skies is our shared responsibility,” said the Ukrainian president.
Ukraine continues to endure relentless Russian missile and drone barrages more than four years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
State Funeral, Then Ottawa
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy joined a procession of international dignitaries at King Harald V’s funeral in central Oslo. The Norwegian king passed away on August 28 at 89.
Zelenskyy walked behind the monarch’s coffin alongside fellow heads of state and senior officials before departing Norway soon after the ceremony.
Støre told NRK that the Ukrainian President was en route to Canada for talks with Canadian leaders.
