Two rockets fell in Lublin Voivodeship, five kilometers from the Ukrainian border. People died as a result of the incident.
After Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine on November 15, serious news came from Poland. Local media reported that rockets fell on the village of Przewodov, Lublin Voivodeship, killing two people.
This was followed by a series of statements from Poland, Russia, Ukraine and other EU countries. Kyiv and the Baltic states immediately declared that the missiles were Russian and a strong response was needed, Warsaw was more restrained and requested consultations with allies. The United States and NATO, after a long pause, denied that the missiles were fired from the territory of the Russian Federation.
In particular, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after the Alliance meeting that the fall of missiles, in all likelihood, was not an attack by the Russian Federation. According to him, probably the explosion was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missilewho lost his way.
“The investigation into the incident is ongoing and we must wait for the result. But we have no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack,” Stoltenberg said, adding that NATO has “no evidence that Russia” is preparing to act against what – or from the 30 countries of the Alliance.
Nothing happened if it wasn’t for RF
At the same time, Stoltenberg noted that the incident occurred as a result of an armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
“This is not Ukraine’s fault, Russia bears the ultimate responsibility,” he said.
The Secretary General added that NATO is ready at any moment to move additional air defense forces to the east, including Poland. According to Stoltenberg, the corresponding systems can be air and sea based.
He stressed that the Alliance is not part of the conflict in Ukraine.
“NATO and allies are supporting Ukraine to exercise its right to self-defense… Our top priority is to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems,” the Secretary added.
The US will investigate
US President Joe Biden called an emergency meeting of G-7 and NATO leaders on Wednesday morning about what happened in Poland. In his speech after the meeting, he called it “likely” that the rocket that fell in Pszewoduv was fired from the Russian Federation, but promised to support Poland in the investigation.
When asked by reporters if the missile was fired from Russia, Biden said “there is preliminary information that disproves it.”
“From the lines of the trajectory, it’s probably not released from Russia, but we’ll see,” the American president said.
Poland does not suspect the attack was deliberate
Warsaw is inclined to believe that the explosion in Przewodów was caused by the downing of a Ukrainian rocket.
“Nobody is saying it was a deliberate attack on Poland,” President Andrzej Duda said, adding that it was a Russian-made missile of the S-300 type.
“There are many indications that it was a Ukrainian air defense missile, which, unfortunately, fell on the territory of Poland,” he said.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says the rocket that hit the country was Soviet-made and likely in service with the Ukrainian air defense forces. However, one cannot exclude the scenarios of the deliberate preparation of such a provocation by the Kremlin to antagonize the Poles against the Ukrainians.
Macron called for caution in assessments
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron called for caution in assessing the incident and said it was too early to know what happened. Speaking at a press conference in Indonesia, where the G-20 summit was held, the French leader noted that “the analysis is now underway.”
“The initial work has been done, its results have been shared by the United States, and we must remain vigilant,” Macron said.
He said he was in contact with Polish authorities and spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm unity after a series of massive Russian strikes against Ukraine on November 15.
Kyiv blamed the Russian Federation
After information appeared that the rocket was fired from the territory of Ukraine, the situation was clarified by Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the presidential office. He blamed Russia for what happened.
“Only Russia is responsible for the war in Ukraine and massive missile strikes. Only Russia is behind the rapidly growing dangers for border countries. There is no need to look for excuses and postpone key decisions, ” he said, urging the world to close the skies over Ukraine.
Moscow praised Biden
The press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the reaction of Western countries to the incident in Pszewoduv, said that “the Poles have all possible means to immediately report that we are talking about fragment of the S-300 missile. And, accordingly, all experts will understand at the same time that this cannot be a missile associated with the Russian armed forces.”
Peskov further praised Biden’s reaction: “In this case, it makes sense to pay attention to the restrained and more balanced reaction of the American side and the American president.”
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.