Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, stated in an exclusive interview that his aircraft has been targeted by Russia twice in recent weeks. These attacks took place in Moldovan airspace, where Zelensky was traveling to Norway on September 9.
Details of the Attacks
Zelensky said in this interview: "In Moldova, my presidential jet was there, and that is why they attacked Moldova." He added that a similar attack occurred again when he was returning to Ukraine via Chisinau. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had also previously stated that Zelensky's plane was nearly hit by a drone in Moldovan airspace, a reality he faces every day.
International Reactions and Impacts
On Sunday, a Russian drone attacked a passenger train carrying foreign officials, including senior European officials and David Petraeus, former CIA director. This attack forced them to evacuate near the Polish border. Zelensky commented on this, saying: "Maybe they didn’t know that some Americans were there, or maybe on the contrary, they knew because I don’t trust them. I think they knew."
Zelensky also stated that these attacks are part of Russia's strategy to intimidate him and other foreign leaders. In recent months, unidentified drones, some of which are linked to Russia, have increasingly entered European airspace. On Tuesday, NATO fighters shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace for the first time.
These attacks and the resulting threats are concerning not only for Zelensky but also for other European and American leaders, impacting the security situation in the region. Zelensky emphasized the importance of international support in light of these attacks, stating that they should be considered part of a broader approach to countering Russian threats.
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