Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated on Wednesday that a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nearly struck by a drone while taking off from Moldova on Tuesday.

The incident occurred as Zelenskyy traveled to Oslo to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V. Støre told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that the flight was almost hit by the drone upon departure from Chisinau International Airport. He added that the episode illustrated the daily risks facing the Ukrainian leader.

Moldovan authorities confirmed the event involved a Russian drone that entered the country’s airspace from Ukraine. The incursion prompted a temporary closure of Moldovan airspace, delaying Zelenskyy’s departure along with several other flights. One drone crashed and exploded in a field approximately 160 kilometers from the airport in the Râșcani district, while a second continued into Romanian airspace.

Moldova’s government spokesman said the airspace reopened after officials confirmed the drone had come down. Arrivals and departures at Chisinau were suspended for a period on Tuesday afternoon.

A Moldovan official suggested the timing raised questions about intent. The country’s ambassador to the United States indicated Russia may have deliberately directed the drone toward the area where Zelenskyy’s plane was waiting.

Ukrainian presidential sources described claims of an immediate direct threat to the aircraft as exaggerated, noting it was primarily an airspace alert triggered by the drone entering Moldovan and Romanian territory. No damage or injuries resulted from the episode.

Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening and participated in the funeral procession on Wednesday alongside other world leaders. He departed Norway shortly afterward.

The episode unfolded hours after the expiration of a short-term agreement between Russia and Ukraine to pause strikes on each other’s capitals. It underscores ongoing Russian aerial activity near Ukrainian borders and the challenges of regional airspace security amid the conflict.