Zelenskiy Says Russian Drones Violated Moldovan Airspace Twice During His Transit

Sept. 15 (Reuters) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace twice while his presidential aircraft was transiting through the country, according to an interview broadcast Tuesday.

Zelenskiy told CBS that he was at Chisinau airport in Moldova, on Ukraine’s western border, while traveling to and from a trip abroad when the incidents occurred.

“In Moldova, my presidential jet was there, and that’s why they attacked Moldova, the airspace of Moldova. Maybe they didn’t want to attack me personally,” Zelenskiy said. “When we came back home, again through Chisinau, again they did the same.”

On Sept. 9, a Moldovan government spokesperson said the departure of Zelenskiy’s aircraft for Norway was delayed after Moldovan authorities closed the country’s airspace because of a drone alert. Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace that day, officials said. One landed in a field north of the capital, triggering a fire, while the second continued into Romanian airspace.

Zelenskiy had not previously spoken publicly about the second incident. It was not immediately clear exactly when he was again in transit through Moldova on his way home to Ukraine from Canada.

Moldovan authorities said two drones entered the country’s airspace on Monday, Sept. 14, for about 10 minutes each over roughly an hour before noon local time.

The reported incursions underline the spillover risks from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moldova is not a NATO member; Romania and Poland are, and both have been sensitive to drone activity near their borders.

On Sunday, a Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine’s border with NATO member Poland, shortly after former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European diplomats had used the same rail line. No casualties were reported.

Reporting by Ron Popeski and Alexander Tanas in Chisinau; Editing by David Gregorio