Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s airplane virtually blown up by drone in ‘suspected Russian assault’
The jet carrying the Ukrainian President had to be grounded on its way to the funeral of Norway’s King Harald after a drone was spotted by security chiefs
The couple have now gone on to Canada after a worrying hold up(Image: Canadian Press/Shutterstock)
Vladimir Putin is suspected of trying to blow up Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his plane was almost hit by a drone.
The aircraft was due to take off from Moldova when it was grounded after the suspected Russian drone was spotted by eagle eyed security chiefs.
Zelenskyy and his wife Olena had been preparing o fly to attend a state funeral of Norway’s King Harald in Oslo on Wednesday (September 10). Norwegian authorities confirmed the plane was delayed with the Ukrainian leader stuck on the jet at Chisinau, Moldova’s capital.
The unmanned drone crossed over the Moldovan border and provoked an immediate airspace shutdown.
The married couple were then allowed to travel when the threat was neutralised(Image: PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE/APAImages/Shutterstock)
The plane had been due to take off at 4,30pm but was delayed on the runway for an hour. The flight was eventually authorised to move after it was confirmed the drone had come down 160km (100 miles) away and exploded.
The Kremlin has refuted claims it was an attack, saying there had been “no threat” to Zelenskyy’s jet. But Moldovan government spokesman Dumitru Ciorici said that Moldova had closed its airspace after noticing a Russian drone had entered it from the direction of Ukraine.
“Three departures and four arrivals were delayed as a result,” he added.
The pair had travelled to attend the funeral of King Harald(Image: Shutterstock)
“After 17:20 (15:20 GMT), the authorities confirmed that the drone had come down and exploded… some 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport.”
Zelenskyy and his wife arrived safely in Oslo on Tuesday evening, where he held talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other officials about military aid.
They then joined other dignitaries for King Harald’s funeral before flying on to Iceland for a brief visit, before heading to Canada for further talks.
Støre had told public broadcaster NRK: “His flight was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova.”
Ukraine has closed its airspace to civilian aircraft since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskyy does not usually use air travel in Ukraine due to the continuing threat from Russian strikes and instead will get on a train to Poland, before boarding flights from there.
