Ukraine's Zelenskyy says Russian drones attacked Moldova twice while he was in transit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) that ​Russian drones attacked Moldovan airspace twice while he was ‌in the country aboard his aircraft in ​transit.

Mr. Zelenskyy told the U.S. television ⁠network CBS that he was in Moldova on Ukraine’s western border, at Chisinau airport, on his way 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...,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. “When we came back home, again through Chisinau, again ​they did the same.”

On ‌September 9, a Moldovan government spokesperson said the departure of Mr. Zelenskyy’s aircraft for Norway was delayed as Moldovan authorities closed the country’s ‌airspace over a drone alert.