Zelenskyy Plane Narrowly Avoids Drone Collision During Flight To Oslo, Norway PM Claims

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly survived a high-stakes aerial encounter after the aircraft carrying him narrowly avoided a collision with an unidentified drone. The incident occurred while the President was en route to Oslo, Norway, to attend the funeral of King Harald V. The startling revelation was made by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who provided details about the security scare that took place during the flight's departure from Moldova.

Details of the Near-Miss Incident

According to the claims made by the Norwegian Prime Minister, the plane transporting Volodymyr Zelenskyy was taking off from Moldova when it came dangerously close to an unidentified drone. The aircraft was headed towards the Norwegian capital to allow the Ukrainian leader to participate in the royal funeral services. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed the event during a conversation with the public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday. He described the situation as deeply concerning and reflective of the constant dangers that the Ukrainian President faces during his international diplomatic missions.

Prime Minister Støre on Security Risks

Speaking about the gravity of the situation, Prime Minister Støre emphasized the reality of the threats surrounding Zelenskyy. He stated that when Zelenskyy's plane was taking off from Moldova, it was almost hit by 1 drone. The Prime Minister noted that this is the harsh reality that the Ukrainian leader has to confront regularly, while the incident highlights the volatile security environment in the region and the specific risks associated with the movement of high-profile leaders amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Impact on Flight Schedule and Airspace Safety

The presence of the drone in the airspace had a direct impact on the logistics of the President's travel. Bhanuja Rasiah, the State Secretary of the Norwegian Prime Minister's Office, commented on the incident, noting that the threat in the airspace directly affected the flight schedule. She explained that a drone threat was looming in the airspace over Moldova, which resulted in a delay for Zelenskyy's flight to Oslo. While she confirmed the delay and the nature of the threat, she mentioned that it remains uncertain exactly how close the drone came to the aircraft, while she reiterated that such threats are part of the daily challenges faced by Zelenskyy.

Confirmation from Other Officials

The incident was further corroborated by Norway's Finance Minister, Jens Stoltenberg. According to Stoltenberg, President Zelenskyy himself shared the details of the encounter during their meeting. Stoltenberg mentioned that Zelenskyy informed them about the situation when they met. While the Finance Minister stated he wouldn't explore into the specific technical details of the event, he confirmed that there were indeed risks associated with the flight which led to the delay in the President's arrival.

Arrival in Oslo and International Context

Despite the mid-air scare and the subsequent delay, President Zelenskyy arrived safely in Oslo on Tuesday evening. Following his meeting with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, he joined other world leaders and international dignitaries to attend the royal funeral program for King Harald V. While Norwegian officials have been vocal about the incident, Ukrainian authorities have not yet officially confirmed the details of the drone encounter, while in a separate but related context of international relations, Donald Trump has made new claims suggesting that Vladimir Putin wants to reach a deal, though he noted that Putin and Zelenskyy harbor a mutual hatred for each other.