Zelenskyy's plane nearly hit by drone during Moldova takeoff
Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plane faced a drone threat during takeoff in Moldova before he traveled to Norway to attend King Harald V's funeral.
A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway was nearly struck by a drone as it departed for Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. Støre spoke to the broadcaster about the persistent security risks facing the Ukrainian leader, stating that 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 did not disclose the source of his information, nor did he specify how close the drone came to the aircraft.
A Moldovan government spokesperson subsequently confirmed that an incident occurred on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, before takeoff, involving a Russian drone. According to the spokesperson, the departure was delayed when authorities closed Moldova's airspace over a drone alert, and Zelenskyy's aircraft was cleared for departure once it was established that the drone had come down on Moldovan territory. A source in the Ukrainian presidency offered a different perspective to AFP, describing the claim that Zelenskyy was at direct risk as exaggerated
and characterizing the situation as an airspace alert prompted by a Russian drone entering Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
Media additions
According to the Institute for the Study of War and reports from Moldovan authorities cited by EUToday, an unauthorized Shahed-type drone entered Moldovan airspace from Ukraine on 8 September 2026. The drone was detected by Moldova's air-surveillance systems at 4:20 p.m., traveling through the Transnistrian sector toward Bender, moving toward Chișinău at 4:32 p.m., and crossing into Romanian airspace near Zagarancea at 4:37 p.m. The same drone was later detected returning across Moldova before crashing in an agricultural field in the Rîșcani district, triggering fires but no reported casualties. Global Banking & Finance Review and Reuters noted that arrivals and departures at Chișinău airport were suspended for a time on Tuesday in connection with the incoming Russian drones, with one drone landing in a field and another continuing into Romania.
Later that Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo to attend official mourning events, including the funeral of Norway's King Harald V, who died on 28 August 2026 at the age of 89. On Wednesday, 9 September 2026, Zelenskyy joined more than 20 foreign leaders, political figures, and dignitaries—including the heir to the British throne, Prince William, and Japan's Crown Prince Akishino—at Oslo Cathedral for the service, later marching behind the king's coffin in central Oslo before proceeding to Akershus Castle Church. Støre told NRK that he asked Zelenskyy how his night had been, to which the Ukrainian leader replied that it had not been a good night because he had been on the phone receiving updates about where missiles had struck in his home country. Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Zelenskyy had described problems with his departure during a meeting, stating He told us about it last night when we had a meeting with him. I don't dare go into the details about it, but he was delayed, and there were some threats against the plane.
While in the Norwegian capital, Zelenskyy held bilateral talks with Støre, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Discussions centred on Norwegian military aid, air-defense support, civilian assistance, and preparations for Ukraine's winter energy needs. Furthermore, Zelenskyy and Norwegian officials met with defence-industry representatives from companies including Fire Point, Kongsberg, Weibel, Saab, Diehl Defence, HENSOLDT, Thales, Safran, Sener, and Leonardo. These talks focused on advancing a European anti-ballistic system codenamed FREYJA, coordinating industrial cooperation, and establishing solutions that would allow Ukraine to build air-defense systems domestically. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine required additional interceptor missiles, particularly for Patriot systems, stating 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.
Following the conclusion of the funeral and bilateral meetings, Zelenskyy departed Norway for Canada to hold further talks with leaders in Ottawa, as confirmed by Støre.
| Event | Time (local) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shahed drone detected in Moldovan airspace | 4:20 p.m. (8 Sept) | EUToday / The Kyiv Independent |
| Drone moving toward Chișinău | 4:32 p.m. (8 Sept) | EUToday |
| Drone crosses into Romanian airspace | 4:37 p.m. (8 Sept) | EUToday / The Kyiv Independent |
| Zelenskyy flight departure from Moldova | Tuesday evening (8 Sept) | Støre via NRK |
| King Harald V funeral service in Oslo | 9 September 2026 | Norwegian Royal Court |
Timeline of the Day
- 8 September 2026, 4:20 p.m. – Moldova's Defense Ministry detects an unauthorized Shahed-type drone entering airspace from Ukraine.
- 4:32 p.m. – The drone moves in the direction of Chișinău, prompting temporary air traffic restrictions.
- 4:37 p.m. – The drone crosses into Romanian airspace before later returning to Moldova and crashing in the Rîșcani district.
- Tuesday evening – Zelenskyy's plane takes off from Chișinău for Oslo following airspace clearance.
- 9 September 2026 – Zelenskyy attends the funeral of King Harald V in Oslo alongside international dignitaries.
