Russia Launches Drones at Moldova During Zelensky Visit, Nearly Striking Presidential Jet
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CBS News in an interview aired Tuesday that Russia sent drones into Moldovan airspace twice while his presidential jet was present, once on September 9 during departure for Oslo and again days later on his return through
Zelensky's account recasts recurring Russian drone incursions into Moldovan airspace as deliberate intimidation of his person and traveling officials rather than incidental spillover from strikes on Ukraine, and if Moscow is tracking his aircraft, that marks a new risk tolerance toward NATO-adjacent airspace and foreign heads of state in transit. Kyiv's own office softened Norway's premier's near-miss description as an exaggeration, complicating any clean read on intent. The incursions may instead reflect routine Shahed transit through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, consistent with Peskov's dismissal of the threat as illusory. Reporting traces to a single CBS exclusive, with other outlets republishing rather than independently confirming Russian intent. Whether the drone that struck the train carrying Petraeus and European officials near Poland specifically targeted them remains unresolved. The Chisinau-leg incursion had not been previously disclosed.
4 sources
- Russia attacked Moldova twice because Zelensky was there, he says -
Kyiv Independent - Ukraine's Zelenskyy tells CBS News Russia tried to attack his plane with drones twice in recent weeks
- Zelensky says Russia launched drones into Moldova twice while his presidential plane was there. A source in his office called a reported near-collision 'an exaggeration.' -
Meduza - Zelensky Says Russia Targeted His Plane Twice Near Moldova as Drone Threats Spread Across Europe -
Kyiv Post