Friday, March 29

Poland investigates the possible fall of Russian missiles on its territory

The Prime Minister of Poland has called an emergency meeting between information published by various media about the possible fall of missiles in a Polish town near the border with Ukraine this Tuesday, a day in which Russia has bombarded dozens of projectiles the Ukrainian territory. The conclusions of the meeting are not yet known. Poland is part of NATO.

A source in the US intelligence services has informed The Associated Press Agency that Russian missiles have landed in Poland, killing two people. A second source has confirmed to the news agency that “what appear to be Russian missiles hit a site in Poland about 15 miles (about 24 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border.” The Washington Post collects, citing a Polish source, that at least one missile has hit the town of Przewodow, next to the border with Ukraine, killing two people. A source in the Polish intelligence services has told the Financial Times that the investigators are studying whether it could be a Russian missile.

At the moment, there is no official confirmation of what happened. The Pentagon has said that it is aware of these press reports, but that it does not yet have corroborating information. NATO and the European Union are waiting for Poland to evaluate what happened. “I have spoken with President Duda about the explosion in Poland. I have conveyed my condolences for the loss of life. NATO is monitoring the situation and the allies are in close consultation. It is important that all the facts are clarified.” Jens Stoltenberg has said in a tweetNATO Secretary General.

Russia has denied being behind “any attacks in the area between the Ukrainian and Polish borders.”

Previously, the Polish radio Zet had reported that two rockets have fallen in Przewodów, in eastern Poland, near the border with Ukraine, hitting an area where grain was drying. According to the Polish media, the Police, the prosecutor’s office and the Army are at the scene. Mariusz Gierszewski, reporter for Polish radio, has explained on Twitter which may be remains of a rocket shot down by Ukraine. “My sources say that what fell in Przewowo is most likely the remains of a rocket shot down by the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the journalist says.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called an urgent meeting of the committee for national security and defense affairs, the government spokesman reported on Twitter. He does not mention the matter at hand. The spokesman has said that all information presented to the committee will be disseminated “later, if possible, as widely as possible.”

This Tuesday, Russia has carried out a wave of attacks throughout Ukraine that has caused widespread blackouts in the country and has claimed at least one life in kyiv. According to Ukraine, its air defense has shot down more than 70 out of 90 missiles.

Concern in Europe

Some countries neighboring Russia have expressed concern over the latest reports. “The latest news from Poland is very worrying,” the Estonian Foreign Ministry said in a tweet. “We are holding close consultations with Poland and other allies. Estonia is ready to defend every inch of NATO territory. We are in full solidarity with our close ally Poland.”

“Russia must explain what happened. Senseless attacks on infrastructure must stop immediately. Russia’s recklessness is getting out of hand,” Slovakia’s Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad tweeted.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has claimed to be “shocked by the news that a missile or other munition has killed people on Polish territory.” “We are with Poland. I am in contact with the Polish authorities, the members of the European Council and other allies”.

Two NATO sources have declared to Financial Times that the situation has caused concern within the alliance, but not panic.

“Something happened today that we have been warning about for a long time. Terror is not limited to our state lines. (…) And today Russian missiles have reached Poland, the territory of our friendly country. People died,” Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said. “Firing missiles into NATO territory… This is a Russian missile attack on collective security! It is a very significant climb. We must act.”

The Russian attack on Ukraine has taken place in the midst of a summit of G20 leaders, who are meeting in Indonesia – among them the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov – in a meeting in which the war in Ukraine hogs much of the attention.





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