The attack on the border crossing heightened security concerns in neighboring Moldova, where authorities condemned the strike. President Maia Sandu stated in a post on X that Russian attacks pose a growing threat to the country, noting that Russia’s front line is moving further west. She emphasized the urgency for air defense for Ukraine. Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan added that the Kremlin’s war was increasingly endangering the lives of Moldovan citizens. The border crossing remains closed following the incident.
The drone activity coincided with a temporary closure of Moldovan airspace on Tuesday, which delayed the departure of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s aircraft en route to Oslo. Zelenskyy was traveling to attend the funeral of Norway’s late King Harald V. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store later told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that Zelenskyy’s plane was “almost hit by a drone” during takeoff from Moldova. “That is the reality he lives in,” Store said. However, a source close to the Ukrainian president’s office described the suggestion that Zelenskyy was in immediate danger as “exaggerated.” Moldovan government officials clarified that the flight was delayed because a Russian drone entered the country’s airspace, causing authorities to halt flights temporarily. The aircraft was cleared to depart after the restrictions were lifted and the drone crashed on Moldovan territory.
Neither Ukrainian authorities nor President Zelenskyy have issued a formal public statement regarding the specific proximity of the drone to his aircraft. The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, assessed that a Shahed-type drone flew through Moldovan and Romanian airspace for approximately one hour on Tuesday. According to reports from the defense ministries of both countries, the drone entered Moldovan airspace from Ukraine, flew over Romania, and returned to Moldova before crashing. It remains unclear if this specific drone was the one referenced by the Norwegian Prime Minister and Moldovan officials.
During his brief stay in Oslo, Zelenskyy held talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg. The discussions focused on military aid, specifically air-defense support, as well as civilian assistance. Following the funeral services on Wednesday, Zelenskyy departed Norway for Canada, where he is scheduled to meet with leaders in Ottawa. The incident underscores the expanding geographical reach of Russian drone operations, which now routinely threaten airspace in NATO-adjacent states, complicating diplomatic travel and regional security planning.
