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He said the attacks may not have been aimed directly at him, but linked the incidents to the presence of his aircraft in Moldova.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (AFP File)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian drones twice entered Moldovan airspace while he was travelling through the country.
Zelenskyy told CBS that his presidential aircraft was at Chisinau airport as he travelled to and from a foreign trip when the incidents occurred.
“In Moldova, my presidential jet was there, and that’s why they attacked Moldova, the airspace of Moldova,” Zelenskyy said. “When we came back home, again through Chisinau, again they did the same.”
He said the attacks may not have been aimed directly at him, but linked the incidents to the presence of his aircraft in Moldova.
Drones Enter Moldovan Airspace
The comments follow a drone alert on September 9 that temporarily disrupted Zelenskyy’s departure for Norway. Moldovan authorities closed the country’s airspace after two Russian drones entered its territory.
One drone landed in a field north of Chisinau and caused a fire, while the other continued into Romanian airspace.
Moldovan authorities also reported two drones entering the country’s airspace on September 14. Each remained in Moldovan airspace for about 10 minutes, according to officials.
Zelenskyy had not previously publicly referred to the second incident involving his transit through Moldova.
It was not immediately clear when exactly he travelled through Chisinau on his return journey from Canada.
Norwegian PM Said Plane Was ‘Almost Hit’
The latest comments also follow remarks by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who said last week that Zelenskyy’s aircraft was “almost hit by a drone” shortly after taking off from Moldova on September 9.
“That is the reality he lives in,” Store told Norwegian media, without providing details about the incident or identifying who was responsible.
The reported incidents highlight the growing risks faced by countries bordering Ukraine as the war continues. Moldova, which lies between Ukraine and Romania, has repeatedly faced drone incursions linked to the conflict.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Ask News18Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian drones targeted Moldovan airspace because his presidential aircraft was stationed at Chisinau airport during his transit to and from a foreign trip. Although he noted the attacks may not have been aimed directly at him, he linked the drone incursions to the presence of his aircraft in the country.
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