Russian drone incursion delays Zelensky’s flight

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced a delay in his flight to Oslo on Wednesday due to a Russian drone incursion near Chisinau International Airport in Moldova. The drone prompted an immediate airspace shutdown, leaving Zelensky's jet on the runway for approximately an hour before it was cleared for take-off. The incident occurred shortly before Zelensky and his wife, Olena, were scheduled to depart for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V. Moldovan authorities closed the airspace after noticing the drone's entry from the direction of Ukraine, delaying three departures and four arrivals.

Zelensky and his wife eventually arrived safely in Oslo, where they held talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other officials regarding military aid. They subsequently traveled to Iceland for a brief visit and then proceeded to Canada for further discussions. Despite initial concerns about the drone threat, a Ukrainian source refuted claims that Zelensky's flight was at risk of being hit.

Russia has intensified its drone attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, with one incident at a Moldovan border crossing killing two people. The Russian military has also introduced new, faster jet-powered unmanned aircraft that are challenging to intercept. Ukraine has faced an average of ten air raid alerts per day, with Kyiv experiencing its highest number of alerts since 2022.

The country has made progress in drone warfare, announcing a "record hit" on Russian gas plants by flying drones over 3,000km into Russia. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces claimed this was their deepest attack into Russia since the war began. Recently, Russian forces attacked a petrol station in Kyiv, seriously injuring four individuals, emphasizing the ongoing conflict between the two nations.