A Russian drone entered Moldovan airspace, delaying the departure of a flight carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Norway, Moldovan officials said.
The Eastern European country that borders Ukraine has closed its airspace after detecting an intrusion by a jet-powered drone, officials said.
President Zelenskiy’s plane was waiting at Chisinau International Airport in the capital of Moldova, and was cleared to take off once the drone was confirmed to have descended. The explosion occurred about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the airport, according to the Associated Press.
Vladislav Kurminski, Moldova’s ambassador to the United States, told CNN’s Jim Schutt that the incident was likely “not an accident.”
“I do not believe that jet-powered drones will fly into Moldovan territory for surveillance purposes while the Ukrainian president’s plane is landing at the airport,” Kurminsky told CNN.
Asked if Moldovan authorities believed the drone was targeting Ukraine’s president, he said an investigation was underway but “it’s too early to say.” However, he added that it is well known that President Zelenskiy uses Moldovan airspace on foreign visits, and “this is probably not the first time something like this has happened.”
The Kremlin has not commented.
Mr Zelenskiy was heading to Norway for King Harald V’s funeral, joining other leaders in a procession through the capital Oslo behind the late king’s coffin.
The person who brought the drone incident to light was Norway’s Prime Minister Girl Storr.
“His plane was about to be hit by a drone as it was taking off from Moldova. That’s the reality he faces,” Store told public broadcaster NRK, according to Reuters.
A second drone crossed Moldova’s airspace on Tuesday, but continued to fly over Romania, officials said. During Moscow’s more than four-year war against Ukraine, Russian drones have routinely entered the airspace of both countries.
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu condemned the drone incursion as a “serious threat to people’s lives.” He also blamed a Russian drone attack on Tuesday at a border crossing with Ukraine that killed two people.
Zelenskiy will visit Canada on Wednesday to address Prime Minister Mark Carney, according to a statement from Prime Minister Carney’s office.
The Ukrainian leader and first lady Olena Zelenska will remain in Canada until Friday.
This story has been updated with additional information.
