Russian drone incursion delays Zelensky flight

A Ukrainian presidential jet carrying President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena faced a delay on Wednesday due to a Russian drone in Moldova. The drone crossed over the Moldovan border ahead of the funeral of Norway's King Harald V. The airspace was immediately shut down, causing Zelensky's jet to remain on the runway for about an hour before clearance to take off.

The plane had been scheduled to depart from Chisinau International Airport at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT). Moldovan officials confirmed that the drone had crashed and exploded approximately 160km (100 miles) away in Mihailenii Vechi village. The incident led to the cancellation of three departures and four arrivals, but Zelensky and his wife arrived safely in Oslo later that day.

They held talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other officials about military aid. The drone threat had initially caused concern, with Støre stating that Zelensky's flight was almost hit by a drone during takeoff. However, a Ukraine source later dismissed the risk as exaggerated. The escalation of Russian drone attacks in recent weeks has raised concerns, with new, faster jet-powered drones posing a greater challenge.

This incident comes amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with recent attacks on Ukrainian petrol stations causing casualties and highlighting the intense military strategies on both sides.