The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation called the reports of the Polish media and officials about the fall of an allegedly Russian missile in the east of Poland a “provocation”. This is stated in the Telegram channel of the Russian Defense Ministry.
The military department claims that the Russian military did not inflict any strikes on targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border.
“The fragments published in hot pursuit by the Polish media from the scene in the village of Przewoduv have nothing to do with Russian weapons,” the Russian Defense Ministry added.
Warsaw statements
Polish radio ZET reported on Tuesday evening, November 15, that two rockets had fallen in the Lublin Voivodeship in the east of the country, not far from the border with Ukraine.
Reuters reports that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers Committee on National Security and Defense.
Representative of the Polish Cabinet of Ministers Petr Muller urged journalists not to publish unverified information.
U.S. and Ukrainian statements
Agent The Associated Press, citing a senior American intelligence official, reported that it was allegedly Russian missiles that flew into Poland. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that 85 or more strikes were inflicted by the Russian Armed Forces on the country’s infrastructure facilities. He also subsequently reported that it was allegedly Russian missiles that exploded on Polish territory.
At the same time, the Pentagon officially announced that they could not confirm reports about the ownership of the exploded missiles. “We don’t have any information right now that would confirm these reports,” said US Department of Defense spokesman Patrick Ryder at a briefing. He added that as soon as the department receives new information, they will be provided to the general public.
It is important for the American side to determine whether the missile drop in Poland was an accident or a deliberate act, the US State Department said.
Reaction of Tallinn and Vilnius
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately reacted to media reports about the explosion of allegedly Russian rocket in Poland.
“The latest news from Poland is of the greatest concern. We are consulting closely with Poland and other allies. Estonia is ready to defend every inch of NATO territory. We are in full solidarity with our close ally Poland,” the ministry said.
Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, in turn, said that it was the Russian authorities who fired the missiles.
Pabriks also called for the closure and defense of the airspace over Ukraine by NATO forces.
Expert opinion
Military expert Aleksey Leonkov suggested that “abnormally fired Ukrainian anti-aircraft guided missiles of the S-300 system” could have flown into Poland.
He added that Russian cruise missiles are high-precision weapons designed for use in conditions of strong opposition from enemy electronic warfare and air defense systems.
Former Colonel of the General Staff, former senior officer of the Main Air Defense Forces Headquarters Mikhail Khodarenok believes that the missile that fell on the territory of Poland could indeed be Ukrainian.
“They are really very similar to the remnants of the S-300 missile. These are, apparently, parts of the 5V55R rocket engine. However, I am sure that it was not a deliberate blow. S-300 missiles, I remember in my service, often left the trajectory even during exercises, ”he told RT.
Przevoduv, where the missiles fell, is located 100 km north of Lvov. Today, as a result of Russian missile strikes on the Lviv region, the city was de-energized, water supply was also turned off there and city transport was stopped.