A Russian drone almost hit Zelenskyy’s plane in Moldova

Russian drones have entered Moldova’s airspace and NATO airspace again, reports say. An incursion means entering an area without permission. The incident comes as Moscow uses more and more jet-powered attack drones.

These drones are fast and hard to stop. They also make it harder to tell the difference between a traditional drone and a low-cost cruise missile.

A traditional drone is also called a UAV, or unmanned aerial vehicle. It often uses a propeller and flies slowly. A jet-powered attack drone uses a jet engine. It flies much faster and can travel long distances before it attacks. Because it is fast, air defenses have less time to find it, follow it, and shoot it down.

The new drones blur the line between UAVs and cruise missiles. A cruise missile is a guided weapon that flies to a target and explodes. A drone can be controlled from the ground or guided by computers. Some drones can also carry explosives and hit a target.

Moldova is not a NATO member, but it is close to the war in Ukraine. NATO is a military alliance. It helps protect the airspace of its members. When drones enter NATO airspace, NATO may send planes to check or stop them. This can increase tensions between Russia and NATO.

Experts say the new jet-powered drones make air defense more difficult. Countries may need better radar, faster planes, and cheaper weapons to shoot down drones. The latest incursion shows how the war in Ukraine can affect nearby countries and NATO airspace.