Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store reported that a drone came close to striking an aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as it departed Moldova. The incident occurred during the president’s travel to Norway’s capital to attend funeral services for King Harald V. Store disclosed the near-miss to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, characterizing it as reflective of the challenging security environment Zelenskyy navigates daily. The prime minister did not disclose the source of his information or specify the precise distance between the aircraft and the drone.
Upon arriving in Oslo, Zelenskyy engaged in discussions with Store focused on advancing a European air defense initiative designated FREYJA. The talks included participation from defense industry representatives. According to Zelenskyy’s public statement, the meeting addressed the allocation of responsibilities between governmental and private defense entities and outlined necessary actions to achieve operational deployment of the system.
Zelenskyy emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts in safeguarding European airspace, expressing appreciation for Norway’s participation in the initiative. He characterized the protection of European skies as a collective endeavor requiring coordinated international commitment. The meetings underscored ongoing efforts to strengthen air defense capabilities amid broader regional security concerns.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian regional officials reported multiple casualties from Russian military operations on the same day. The reported incidents occurred across various locations including areas near the Ukraine-Moldova border and in southeastern regions of Ukraine, contributing to an ongoing pattern of cross-border military activity.
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