2 hrs ago
Zelenskyy’s Plane Nearly Hit by Drone, Norway Says
Norway’s prime minister said a drone nearly hit the plane carrying Ukraine’s president.
The plane was taking off from Moldova and was headed to Oslo.
A Ukrainian official said there was a drone alert but called the claim that the president was in danger exaggerated.
The official said a Russian drone had entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
Zelenskyy was in Oslo to attend Norway’s King Harald V’s funeral.
He also met Norway’s prime minister and defense-industry leaders.
They discussed ways to improve Ukraine’s air defenses and possibly help Ukraine build them.
The report also said Ukrainian officials blamed Russian attacks for killing at least eight people.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said a drone nearly hit Zelenskyy’s plane shortly after it took off from Moldova.
Støre did not disclose the information’s source, the drone’s distance from the aircraft, or who operated it.
A Ukrainian presidency source said there was an alert after a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace, calling the claim that Zelenskyy was at risk exaggerated.
Zelenskyy visited Oslo for King Harald V’s funeral and held talks on military assistance and Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities.
Zelenskyy and Norwegian officials also discussed the FREYJA anti-ballistic programme and cooperation to develop air-defence systems in Ukraine.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and a source in the Ukrainian presidency are central to the report.
- What
- Støre said a drone nearly hit the plane carrying Zelenskyy shortly after takeoff from Moldova; a Ukrainian source disputed the severity of the incident.
- Where
- The reported incident occurred during takeoff from Moldova; Zelenskyy’s meetings and the funeral took place in Oslo, Norway.
- When
- Støre made the statement on Wednesday; Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening.
- Why
- Støre cited the incident as evidence of the risks Zelenskyy faces, while Zelenskyy’s Oslo talks focused on military assistance and strengthening air defense.
Norwegian Account
Ukrainian Presidency Account
How serious was the drone incident?
Norwegian Account
Jonas Gahr Støre said the flight was almost hit by a drone shortly after takeoff, presenting it as an example of the danger faced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian Presidency Account
A source in the Ukrainian presidency said there was an alert after a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace, but described the claim that Zelenskyy himself was at risk as exaggerated.
What is established about the incident?
Norwegian Account
The Norwegian prime minister reported the near miss but did not provide the source, distance, or operator of the drone.
Ukrainian Presidency Account
The Ukrainian source provided an account involving a drone alert and airspace violations but did not confirm that Zelenskyy’s aircraft was nearly struck.
Key facts
- Reported incident
- Støre said Zelenskyy’s flight was almost hit by a drone shortly after taking off from Moldova.
- Disputed account
- A Ukrainian presidency source said there was an alert after a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace and called the danger claim exaggerated.
- Undisclosed details
- Støre did not identify the source of his information, the drone’s distance from the plane, or who was behind it.
- Oslo visit
- Zelenskyy attended King Harald V’s funeral and met Norwegian officials.
- Defense discussions
- Talks covered military and civilian assistance, Ukraine’s air defenses, and possible domestic production of air-defence systems.
- FREYJA programme
- Zelenskyy and Norwegian defense-industry executives discussed a European anti-ballistic system codenamed FREYJA.
- Reported casualties
- Ukrainian regional officials said at least eight people were killed in Russian attacks on Wednesday.
Quotes
Ukrainian presidency source
An unnamed source in the Ukrainian presidency
“We expect to see the first practical results. I am grateful to Norway for hosting this meeting. I thank our partners for their readiness to work together. Protecting Europe’s skies is our shared responsibility,”
firstpost.com
“We were out yesterday until past midnight, talking about how we can cooperate to provide air defence for Ukraine against the terrible things that are happening.”
news18.com
Sources
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