Poland asks Russia to explain 'missile violation of airspace'

Warsaw will demand an explanation from Moscow, after the Polish military said a Russian cruise missile entered its airspace for 39 seconds.

"Poland will ask the Russian Federation to explain the violation of its airspace," Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said today, calling on Moscow to "stop attacking Ukrainian territory and focus on solving domestic problems."

The move comes after Ukrainian officials announced today that Russia had launched missile attacks on the capital Kiev and the western province of Lviv bordering Poland. The Polish military said the same day that a Russian cruise missile flew over the village of Oserdow, Lublin province, bordering Ukraine at 4:23 a.m.

According to the Polish military, the Russian missile flew at a speed of about 800 km/h, 400 meters above the ground and was in Polish airspace for 39 seconds before returning to the other side of the border. Poland has informed its NATO allies about the incident.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had carried out precise strikes on Ukrainian gas and electricity production facilities on the night of March 23. Russian officials have not commented on Poland's move.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski. Photo: PAP

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the country had activated "all air defence systems and air force after a massive Russian attack in Ukraine". Mr Kosiniak-Kamysz added that the Russian missile would be shot down "if there were signs that it was aimed at a target on Polish territory".

The Polish military said in December 2023 that a Russian missile had flown from Ukraine into its airspace and returned across the border, and also asked Moscow for an explanation. Russia's charge d'affaires in Poland, Andrey Ordash, said Poland had not provided evidence of a violation of its airspace.

In November 2022, a missile fell on the village of Przewodow in southeastern Poland, bordering Ukraine, killing two civilians. Ukraine accused it of being a “Russian missile attacking Poland,” but Polish officials concluded in September that it was a stray Ukrainian anti-aircraft shell.

Location of the cities of Kiev and Lviv. Graphics: WP

Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, AFP )

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