Poland’s armed forces chief believes a Russian missile entered Poland for almost three minutes and then turned back into Ukrainian airspace.
Poland experienced a security alert when a missile, suspected to be Russian, traveled approximately 40km (25 miles) into Polish airspace early on Friday. This incident coincided with what Ukraine termed as Russia’s most extensive day of air strikes since the conflict began.
Immediate Response and Emergency Meeting
President Andrzej Duda convened an emergency security meeting upon detecting the object on the radar. The Polish military, being a member of NATO, scrambled both Polish and Allied aircraft in response to the incident at around 07:00 (06:00 GMT) on Friday. About 200 police officers searched the area where the object was detected, but there have been no reports of an explosion.
Search and Potential Russian Provocation
Authorities are conducting a thorough search to ensure the missile did not land on Polish territory. Poland, suspecting a connection to the ongoing Russian attacks, emphasized the need to investigate if this incident was a provocation or a test of their reaction. Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Wziatek stated, “We should check both scenarios carefully.”
Previous Missile Incidents
This is not the first time Poland has faced missile-related incidents. In November 2022, two Polish farmers were killed by a missile near the Ukrainian border. Another incident involved an unarmed Russian cruise missile crossing Polish territory in December of the same year.
Political Reactions
The political landscape in Poland responded to the incident with different perspectives. Poland’s new defense minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, emphasized the immediate action taken by security forces, assuring the public that “the state is acting!” On the other hand, the previous defense minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, raised questions about the incident, including the unknown nature of the object, potential harm, and the effectiveness of anti-aircraft defense systems.
Conclusion and Ongoing Vigilance
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed solidarity with Poland, emphasizing the alliance’s vigilance. The Polish government continues to investigate the incident, considering both the possibility of provocation and the need for a careful examination of the situation.
Source: BBC News
