Polish officials demand an explanation from Moscow after a Russian missile briefly entered the country’s airspace over the weekend. F-16 fighter jets were scrambled recently to intercept and monitor the missile.
The Armed Forces Operational Command released a statement describing the incident. It noted the cruise missile crossed into Polish airspace at 4:23 a.m. local time in the vicinity of Oserdow.
The missile remained over the country adjacent to the Ukraine border for 39 seconds before exiting. According to the Associated Press, its target was the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
It marked the third cruise missile strike on Ukraine within four days and the second targeting the capital city. Kyiv authorities reported there were no immediate signs of casualties or damage from the strikes but that critical infrastructure was struck.
The alerts from the strikes sent Kyiv residents rushing for shelter. The city’s military commander, Serhiy Popko, confirmed the strikes were launched from Tu-95ms strategic bombers from the north.
✈️🇵🇱 #Poland demanded an explanation from #Russia after one of its missiles strayed briefly into Polish airspace during a missile attack on #Ukraine 🇺🇦 Sunday.
The incident prompted the #NATO member to activate F-16 fighter jets, as @shinjennie explains 👇 pic.twitter.com/qVNmb3rg5z
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) March 25, 2024
This led to an air alert in Kyiv that lasted more than two tense hours.
It has not been determined if the cruise missiles intentionally flew over Poland, but they are capable of changing course to evade a country’s defense systems.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told the media during a news conference that his country would have shot down the Russian cruise missile if it was determined to be targeting a domestic site.
He confirmed that Polish officials tracked the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine and were in contact with Kyiv. He said F-16s from Poland and NATO were scrambled when the breach of the country’s airspace occurred.
Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, “As last night’s rocket attack on Ukraine was one of the most intense since the beginning of the Russian aggression, all the strategic procedures were launched on time and the object was monitored until it left Polish airspace.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna told reporters that the Russian ambassador will be summoned and will receive a protest note over the incursion.
Witnesses reported hearing a whistling sound and seeing a rapidly moving object in the sky over Oserdow.
