❓WHAT HAPPENED: Irish authorities are investigating four drones that appeared to follow or attempt to intercept Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plane as it arrived in Dublin.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Irish authorities, and unidentified drone operators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 1, during Zelensky’s state visit to Ireland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ukraine deeply appreciates the support and assistance of the Irish people and government… We discussed steps toward ending the war with a guaranteed peace for Ukraine and all of Europe.” – Volodymyr Zelensky.

🎯IMPACT: The drones breached a no-fly zone and raised concerns over security, though Zelensky’s visit proceeded safely.

Irish authorities are investigating an incident in which four drones appeared to shadow or intercept the plane of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as it landed in Dublin during his first official state visit to Ireland. According to reports, the drones breached a no-fly zone that had been established for his flight path, raising serious concerns about their origin and purpose.

Witnesses say the drones, which reportedly had their lights on, hovered for up to two hours above an Irish warship deployed for protection. Observers estimated the drones had taken off northeast of Dublin and reached the point where Zelensky’s plane would have touched down, had it arrived on schedule. The ship lacked the capability to disable them, and Irish warplanes did not intervene. Authorities are examining whether the drones could have been launched from an undetected vessel at sea.

The Óglaigh na hÉireann (Irish Defense Forces) stated that, for “operational security reasons,” it could not discuss the specifics of any alleged incident.

In a post on X following the visit, Zelensky thanked the Irish people and government: “Ukraine deeply appreciates the support and assistance of the Irish people and government… We discussed steps toward ending the war with a guaranteed peace for Ukraine and all of Europe.” He also praised Ireland’s role in supporting Ukraine’s path toward European Union (EU) membership.

The drone incident in Dublin comes amid heightened scrutiny of unmanned aerial operations targeting high-profile figures. Earlier this year, a military commander in Russia claimed that drones targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s helicopter during a visit to the Kursk region. The commander said the aircraft was in the “epicenter” of the attack and that Russian air defense forces neutralized the drone before it could reach the flight path. No damage or injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, Kiev and its international partners appear to be inching closer to a diplomatic resolution. According to recent reporting, Ukraine has accepted the core terms of a U.S.-backed peace framework, developed in Geneva, Switzerland, signalling a potential turning point in the nearly four-year war with Russia.

Image via the Houses of the Oireachtas.

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