A chilling incident has sent a clear message from Moscow, exposing the Kremlin's brazen disregard for international airspace and the safety of global leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plane was reportedly "almost hit" by a Russian drone as it prepared for takeoff from Moldova this week, a perilous near-miss that highlights the escalating dangers on Europe's eastern flank.
The alarming revelation came from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who informed public broadcaster NRK about the close call. "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 stated, underscoring the constant threat faced by the Ukrainian leader.
Moldovan authorities later confirmed the gravity of the situation, reporting that two Russian drones were involved. The airspace above Chișinău International Airport was temporarily shut down, grounding flights and diverting others, as officials worked to secure the skies.
Zelenskyy was en route to Oslo for the Norwegian king's state funeral, where he was also slated to discuss crucial military and air defense aid. One drone ultimately landed in a field north of the Moldovan capital, sparking a fire, while the other brazenly continued its flight into Romanian airspace—a direct affront to a NATO member.
This dangerous incident occurred amidst heightened tensions, with Moldovan President Maia Sandu forcefully denouncing the incursions as a "serious threat to people's lives." Sandu also condemned a separate Russian drone strike on a border crossing with Ukraine, which tragically claimed two lives.
The Institute for the Study of War has previously detailed how a Russian Shahed drone violated both Moldovan and Romanian airspace for an extended period before crashing. This pattern of reckless aerial incursions by Russia is not an isolated event; it represents a calculated probing of defenses and a clear challenge to sovereign borders and international norms. The audacity of these actions demands a robust response and unwavering vigilance from the free world, reminding us of the urgent need for strong national security and decisive leadership against aggression.
