“Violations in NATO airspace on the eastern flank force us to be ready. Defense is sending a “Patriot” unit to Lithuania for several weeks of exercises.
It directly contributes to our readiness and reassures our allies,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on the X social network on Thursday.
Poland is asking Russia for an explanation about the missile that crossed NATO territory
Poland will demand an explanation from Moscow for a “new airspace violation”, the country’s foreign ministry said on Sunday.
“First of all, we ask the Russian Federation to stop terrorist airstrikes against the population and territory of Ukraine, end the war and focus on the country’s internal problems,” added Pawel Wronski, spokesman for the ministry.
A Russian cruise missile launched into western Ukraine violated Polish airspace, the country’s military said on Sunday.
“Polish airspace was violated by one of the cruise missiles launched at night […] Air Force of the Russian Federation,” the army wrote on the X social network.
NATO military exercises in Norway
(16 photos)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises in Norway (photo by SCANPIX)
NATO military exercises (photo by SCANPIX)
Her report said the violation lasted about 40 seconds.
“The object flew through Polish airspace over the village of Oserduwo (Lublin Voivodeship) and stayed there for 39 seconds,” the statement added.
The military said the missile was tracked by military radar throughout its flight.
“The Polish military constantly monitors the situation on the territory of Ukraine and maintains constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace,” the military said.
During the incident, Poland activated its air defense procedures, the armed forces operational command said in a statement.
This is not the first such incident
A similar incident occurred on December 29, 2023, when a Russian missile remained in Polish airspace for several minutes.
In November 2022, two people were killed when a Ukrainian air defense missile landed in the Polish village of Przewoduwo, near the Ukrainian border.
Before it was determined that the missile was Ukrainian, there were fears that NATO, of which Poland is a member, would be drawn into an escalation of conflict with Russia if its collective defense provisions were invoked.
