Zelensky plane drone near-miss claim disputed by Ukraine and Moldova

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has said a drone almost hit a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as it departed Moldova for Oslo.

Store made the claim to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, saying the aircraft was nearly struck during take-off. The available information does not identify the drone or establish how close it came to the plane.

Ukraine and Moldova have played down the reported incident. A source in the Ukrainian presidency described as exaggerated the claim that Zelensky was at risk.

The source material does not establish the exact location or timing of the alleged near-miss beyond the aircraft’s departure from Moldova. It also does not say whether the plane was damaged or whether anyone was injured.

The account remains a claim attributed to Store rather than an independently confirmed incident. There is no information establishing that the aircraft was targeted.