A crater now sits in the eastern Polish village of Tarnawa-Kolonia. A Russian missile made it early Thursday after entering Polish airspace, and NATO sent up fighters in response.
Poland and other NATO members launched F-16 jets, along with an aerial refuelling aircraft and an airborne early warning plane, an alliance spokesperson said. “NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its territory,” the spokesperson added. Polish authorities said the explosion injured no one and caused no damage.
The missile was part of an overnight Russian barrage of ballistic missiles and drones against Ukraine that killed at least eight civilians, children among them, and injured more than 50.
What officials said
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk went to the site. “Everything indicates” it was a Russian missile, he said. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha went further on X, calling it “a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile.” He said the episode showed that strengthening Ukraine’s air defense “is urgent and serves as a guarantee for the protection of the entire Euro-Atlantic community.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wrote on social media that “Poland and NATO activated their air and ground defences.” He called the incident “yet another reckless act by Russia and a dangerous consequence of its war against Ukraine.”
Not the only stray
Such incidents have grown more frequent in recent months as Russia and Ukraine fire hundreds of projectiles at each other. Romania has reported repeated drone incursions, and on Monday it summoned Russia’s ambassador after three more drones crossed in. In May, Estonia and Latvia said drones had entered their airspace from Russia, and the government in Riga then collapsed in an argument over how to handle them.
Poland added air defence deployments last year and says it regularly detects Russian missiles and drones violating its airspace. The drone incursions have also prompted discussion in the European Union about building a possible “drone wall” along its eastern flank.
