Dublin, Ireland, 5 December (H.S.): An Irish naval vessel detected up to five unidentified drones hovering perilously close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's anticipated flight path as his aircraft touched down at Dublin Airport on Monday evening, prompting a swift and intense security response.

The military-grade devices, first sighted approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the capital, breached a stringent no-fly zone enforced specifically for the high-profile state visit, arriving precisely at the moment Zelenskyy's jet was scheduled to traverse the area—though an early landing averted any direct threat.

Irish authorities are probing whether the drones launched from terra firma or an undetected maritime platform, amid broader European concerns over such incursions labeled hybrid warfare by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Zelenskyy's brief trip to Ireland, his first as president, sought to bolster European backing for Kyiv amid Russia's unrelenting invasion, with the delegation departing the following day unscathed following robust coordination between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. Defence officials withheld specifics citing operational security but affirmed the visit's success.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar