Explosion inside Poland likely Ukrainian antiaircraft missile
News that a missile from the Russia-Ukraine conflict struck Polish soil Tuesday, killing two, sent shudders around the world. First reports blamed Russia which had fired into Ukraine a barrage of at least 85 missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said most missiles targeted his country’s power infrastructure. Like many first reports, this one appears to have been wrong (Washington Post):
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the explosions in Poland that claimed two lives were probably caused by a Ukrainian missile defending against Russian strikes.
The remark, made following a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, came after Western leaders urged calm and tried to curtail speculation about the risk of direct hostilities between Russia and NATO.
Stoltenberg said the incident is still being investigated but the blast was most likely due to a Ukrainian antiaircraft missile defending against a Russian cruise missile. Still, he stressed, Russia is to blame.
Polish President Andrzej Duda called the explosion an “unfortunate accident” and dismissed speculation of a direct attack on his country (New York Times):
“We have no evidence at the moment that it was a rocket launched by Russian forces,” Mr. Duda told reporters. “However, there are many indications that it was a missile that was used by Ukraine’s antimissile defense.”
Stoltenberg placed ultimate blame on Russia:
“Let me be clear. This is not Ukraine’s fault,” he said. “Russia bears ultimate responsibility as it continues its illegal war against Ukraine.”
You can cancel your freeze-dried food orders for now.