A NATO spokesperson has reportedly said the alliance is in "close contact" with Polish authorities after what they described as a "Russian missile" crashed in Poland.
"In response to a Russian missile of currently unknown type that entered Polish airspace and later crashed into Polish territory - one of many missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine overnight - NATO and Poland activated their air and ground defences," Martin O'Donnell, a spokesperson for NATO's Europe headquarters, said in a statement, per AFP.
"Two NATO fighter jets, which were Polish F-16s, a NATO Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Unit Airbus A330 refuelling aircraft, a Polish Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning aircraft, and a Polish Mi-24 helicopter, were scrambled," he added.
An unidentified object landed deep inside Polish territory in what Prime Minister Donald Tusk said was part of a massive Russian barrage targeting western Ukraine overnight into Thursday, causing an explosion in a town near the eastern Polish city of Lublin.
“During the Russian massive missile attack on western Ukraine, a violation of Polish airspace occurred,” wrote Tusk on X.
The explosion, according to Polish authorities, left behind a 10 metre wide crater. Residents of Tarnawa Kolonia, reported hearing an explosion at about 4 am local time, that shook the windows of their homes, said a police statement.
Police went to a field about two kilometres from the homes and found a 10-metre wide "crater" and "debris from a non-identified object", the statement added.
The armed forces command said that an Mi-24 helicopter flew over the scene and reported "the probable impact place of the object on unbuilt land".
Polish authorities did not immediately report any casualties as a result of the explosion.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested the object was a Russian cruise missile, which he says was originally headed to Ukraine, but missed its target.
“Overnight, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile crossed into Poland as part of Russia’s massive strike against Ukraine, violating NATO airspace,” wrote Sybiha in a post on X.
The top Ukrainian diplomat called on Ukraine’s allies to boost his country’s air defences, underscoring that a stronger Ukraine in the skies, is by extension a safer Europe.
“This is yet another clear demonstration that strengthening Ukraine’s air defence now is urgent and serves as a guarantee for the protection of the entire Euro-Atlantic community,” he added.
Sybiha detailed that the latest barrage, one of the largest Russia has fired in a while, included at least 74 missiles, many of them the ballistic variant, and hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed strike drones.
European Council President Antonio Costa slammed the violation of Polish airspace and territory, calling Russia's actions a threat to the entire continent.
“During the attack, Polish airspace was also violated, underlining once again that Russia’s aggression is a threat to the security of Europe as a whole,” wrote Costa on X.
Costa echoed Sybiha’s sentiment in his statement, as he too called on the EU to beef-up its support for Ukraine militarily, to better equip it to defend itself – and Europe – against continued Russian aggression, which it has been fending off since the Kremlin launched its invasion in February 2022.
“We are stepping up our support to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence, including anti-missile and anti-drone capabilities. Europe will continue to stand united in the face of this aggression,” said Costa.
RelatedUkraine has been pleading for more air defence systems from the US, particularly the Patriot batteries, and anti-missile capabilities.
In his first meeting with the UK’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his calls for more anti-ballistic missiles, a prospect Burnham vowed to discuss more in depth in weeks to come.
