Zelenskyy’s Flight to Norway Delayed After Drone Incursion Forces Moldova to Close Airspace

CHISINAU — A flight carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway was delayed after Moldovan authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace following a drone incursion, officials said.

Moldovan government spokesperson Dumitru Ciorici said the airspace was closed on Tuesday afternoon as a precaution to protect aircraft operating over the country. The measure delayed three departures, including the flight carrying Zelenskyy, before restrictions were lifted and the aircraft subsequently continued to Norway.

Moldovan police said a drone crashed and exploded in a sunflower field near a village in the Riscani district, about 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport. The incident triggered four fires, but no injuries were reported.

According to Moldovan authorities, the drone had first entered neighbouring Romania, a NATO member, before crossing back into Moldovan airspace. Two F-18 fighter jets operated by the Spanish Air and Space Forces were deployed to track its trajectory as it travelled through northeastern Romania.

Moldovan explosives experts later examined debris recovered from the crash site and found characteristics resembling a Geran-type drone, a model used extensively by Russia during its war against Ukraine. Investigators are continuing to determine the type and quantity of explosives carried by the drone.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns across Eastern Europe as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. Both Moldova and Romania have reported numerous drone-related incidents since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zelenskyy was travelling to Norway, where he arrived later than originally scheduled. His visit comes as Ukraine continues diplomatic efforts to secure greater international support and strengthen its air-defence capabilities amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks.

The temporary closure of Moldovan airspace highlights the growing regional impact of the war, with drone activity increasingly affecting neighbouring countries and civilian aviation beyond Ukraine’s borders.