After a missile hit Poland, there is increasing evidence that the missile came from the Ukrainian air defense system. That is very likely, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday. There are no indications of an attack on Poland. Tuesday night’s explosion, which killed two people, is seen as an unfortunate incident.
The missile that fell in eastern Poland was made in Russia, but there is no evidence it was launched from there, the Polish president confirmed. US President Joe Biden had also previously stated that it was unlikely that the guided missile had been fired into Russia. A misguided Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile is suspected to be behind the incident. According to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, it may not be necessary to start the procedure under Article 4 of the NATO treaty. Article 4 provides for closer consultation between members of the military alliance when the security of one of them is threatened.
Matching Missile Fragments
As early as Tuesday evening, military experts compared images of fragments and concluded that they came from the engine of an S-300 anti-aircraft missile – a series used by Ukraine (see tweets below). It was launched to intercept a Russian missile.
Russia denied launching the missile shortly after the incident became known. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday also accused NATO countries of a “hysterical reaction” because it involved a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile.
Ukraine said Russia was responsible for every missile incident. Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to President Zelensky, stressed that the only logic that could be followed was that the war was started by Russia and was being waged by Russia. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) issued a similar statement on Wednesday: “The reason why Ukraine has to defend itself with anti-missile missiles is attacks by the Russian Federation on civilian infrastructure and facilities,” he explained.
“Strengthen the Sky”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said after the emergency meeting that a Ukrainian missile had probably accidentally hit Poland. During the meeting, according to Slovak sources, the military alliance discussed strengthening air defenses on the eastern flank. “It is logical that there will probably be a proposal to strengthen the airspace of the countries on the border,” said Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger.
Poland’s National Security Council will meet again on Wednesday for deliberations. Polish border guards had previously increased their patrols. In Estonia, too, the government is meeting in Tallinn for an extraordinary cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called the meeting for Wednesday afternoon and spoke of an “extremely serious” incident.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
