On September 15, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian military drones attacked Moldovan airspace twice while he was visiting the country, escalating tensions and demonstrating Russia's reach into neighboring NATO-adjacent territory.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told CBS News on September 15, 2026, that Russia attempted to target his presidential aircraft with drone strikes on two separate occasions during recent trips through Moldova. He stated Russia deliberately attacked Moldova because his plane was present.
A Russian drone incursion caused airspace closure over Moldova on September 10, 2026, delaying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's flight between Moldova and Norway, according to Moldovan officials. Norwegian Prime Minister claimed the drone had nearly struck the aircraft, though authorities did not confirm this.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's flight from Moldova to Oslo was delayed on September 9, 2026, when Moldovan authorities closed the country's airspace after a Russian drone nearly struck the aircraft during takeoff, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre reported.
A Russian drone violated Moldovan and NATO airspace on September 9 and nearly hit President Zelenskyy's plane as it took off from Moldova en route to Norway, part of Russia's increasing deployment of jet-powered attack drones.
On September 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly hit by a drone as it took off from Moldova en route to Oslo for Norway's King Harald V's funeral, according to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Ukraine and Moldova downplayed the incident on September 10.