OSLO, 10 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s plane was nearly hit by a drone while preparing to take off from Moldova, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Wednesday. Stoere told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that Zelenskiy’s aircraft was “almost hit by a drone” as it was about to depart Moldova, highlighting the security risks facing the Ukrainian president amid Russia’s ongoing aerial attacks. Moldovan authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace on Tuesday following reports of drone activity, delaying Zelenskiy’s departure. A government spokesperson said the aircraft was cleared for take-off after authorities confirmed that a Russian drone had fallen on Moldovan territory. Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace on Tuesday, disrupting operations at Chisinau airport. One drone crashed in a field and caused a fire, while the other continued into Romanian airspace. Moldovan President Maia Sandu described the incursions as a serious threat to people’s lives, while the country’s prime minister said such incidents had increased significantly in recent weeks. The wider regional threat continued on Wednesday when Russian drones struck a Ukrainian border crossing near Moldova, killing two people and injuring three, according to Ukrainian officials. Zelenskiy travelled to Oslo to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. During his visit, he was also expected to discuss Ukraine’s urgent air defence and military support needs with Norwegian officials and companies involved in the Freyja European missile-defence initiative. The Norwegian prime minister’s account of the near-miss has not been independently corroborated. Moldovan authorities have confirmed the airspace closure and drone incident but have not publicly disclosed details about how close the drone came to Zelenskiy’s aircraft.