Drone Nearly Struck Zelenskyy's Plane in Moldova

A drone nearly struck the plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as it departed from Moldova en route to Oslo, Norway, according to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026, as Zelenskyy was traveling to attend the funeral of Norway's King Harald V. Støre told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday, September 9, that the aircraft carrying the Ukrainian president "was almost hit by a drone during takeoff" from Moldova. He described the event as part of the reality Zelenskyy faces amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Details regarding the drone's origin, its proximity to the aircraft, or its ultimate fate were not immediately available. Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo and participated in the funeral proceedings on Wednesday, September 9. While in Norway, he met with Prime Minister Støre and defense industry executives to discuss the FREYJA initiative, a European antiballistic missile program. Discussions focused on advancing the program and dividing responsibilities between governments and defense companies. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of protecting European skies as a shared responsibility.