Missile that exploded in Poland likely fired by Russia, says PM Tusk

A missile that blasted a 10-metre crater in a field in eastern Poland was likely fired by Russia, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday, as NATO and European leaders condemned the violation of the country's airspace.

The explosion occurred around 4 a.m. local time near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, about 80 kilometres from the Polish-Ukrainian border, shaking residents and damaging windows, according to reports from France 24 and The Guardian. Police said they discovered a crater and scattered debris from an unidentified object in a field about two kilometres from the nearest buildings.

Tusk told a news conference near the crater that analysis of recovered fragments pointed to a Russian Kh-101 missile. “There is no reason to think that Poland was the target,” he said, but added that two objects had violated Poland’s airspace. “One of them definitely did, because we have its traces here, and the other was near the Polish border, but it was a very brief signal, so there were no consequences associated with it.”

The incident came as Russia launched 74 missiles and 284 drones against targets in Ukraine, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more, according to reports carried by The Guardian. Casualties were reported primarily in the Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks demonstrated a “critical shortage of air defence missiles from our partners.”

Coverage comparison

Reports from France 24 and The Guardian both confirmed the missile strike on Polish soil and the attribution of responsibility to Russia, though they placed different emphasis on the events. France 24 focused on the international condemnation of Russia’s actions, quoting a NATO spokesman who said the alliance and Poland had activated air and ground defences in response to the incursion. The Guardian gave more attention to the humanitarian toll in Ukraine, describing the Russian assault as a “brutal war” and reporting that air raid sirens had sounded in the eastern Polish city of Lublin.

Both outlets quoted Polish officials directly, with France 24 noting that Tusk had chaired a crisis unit meeting with the defence and interior ministers in Lublin. The Guardian reported that Tusk was travelling to the impact site on Thursday morning.

Key claims

  • At least 13 people were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, according to reports from multiple sources.
  • Russia launched 74 missiles and 284 drones against targets in Ukraine, a figure carried by both outlets.
  • Casualties were reported primarily in the Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Poland is investigating an airspace violation and explosion on its territory, confirmed by both sources.
  • An unidentified object was detected in Polish airspace and crashed near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, as reported by both France 24 and The Guardian.
  • Air raid sirens sounded in the eastern city of Lublin, according to The Guardian.
  • The missile that blasted a crater in Poland was likely fired by Russia, a claim made by Prime Minister Tusk and reported by France 24.
  • NATO and European leaders blame Russia for the explosion in Poland, as reported by France 24.
  • Tusk says there is no reason to think Poland was the target, a statement carried by France 24.
  • Two objects violated Poland’s airspace, according to Tusk, as reported by France 24.
  • NATO activated its defences in response to the Russian missile entering Polish airspace, as reported by France 24.
  • A Polish F-16 fighter jet took off after the missile was detected but lost track of it, according to reports not specified in the available material.

Perspectives

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a news conference that analysis of most traces and recovered fragments pointed to a Russian Kh-101 missile. He stated there was no reason to believe Poland was the target, but confirmed that two objects had violated the country’s airspace.

A NATO spokesman, Martin O’Donnell, said the alliance and Poland activated air and ground defences in response to the missile, which he described as one of many fired by Russia at Ukraine overnight.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, responding to the Russian attacks, said Ukraine faced a critical shortage of air defence missiles from its partners.

Police in Poland have opened a military prosecutor’s investigation to determine the origin and nature of the explosion.