two missiles have fallen in Polanda NATO member country, and have killed two people, as confirmed by the intelligence services of the United States to the agency Associated Press. “It cannot be corroborated that Russian missiles have hit Poland,” Pat Ryder, a spokesman for the Pentagon, has qualified during a press conference.
Ryder also did not want to rule on Article 5 of the collective defense of the Atlantic Alliance, which stipulates that an armed attack against one of the members will be considered an aggression against all the nations of the organization. However, he has made it clear that “every inch of NATO territory” will be defended.
The impact would have taken place in the town of Przewodówa few kilometers from the Ukrainian city of Lviv, according to local radio ZET. The Police and the Army are already present at the scene and Firefighters have confirmed explosions in the area, although they have not given details about what happened.
the polish journalist Mariusz Gierszewskiwho was the first person to report what happened on Twitter, now explains that according to his sources “it is very likely that what happened in Przewodów is the remains of a Russian missile shot down by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with their anti-aircraft defenses” .
And the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has directly accused Russia of the impact of the missiles in Poland, a NATO member country, but without providing any evidence. In his nightly message to the nation, he has spoken of the “significant increase in the escalation” of the conflict and has assured that “Russian missiles have hit Poland, the territory of a friendly country. Two people have died.”
[Rusia bombardea Kiev y se activa la alerta antiaérea en toda Ucrania]
The Polish government has taken more than three hours to appear before the media before issuing any statement. During that time the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawieckihas been in an emergency meeting with members of the Committee on National Security and Defense Affairs.
At the end of the meeting the spokesman for the Polish government, Piotr Muller, has appeared before the media and has confirmed that “there was an explosion in the district of Hrubieszów, which caused the death of two Polish citizens”. In this sense, she has indicated that “the authorities are trying to clarify what happened. Meanwhile, the procedures provided for this type of situation have been implemented and we have increased the combat readiness alert level of some military units and services”.
Rzecznik rządu @PiotrMuller: W powiecie hrubieszowskim doszło do eksplozji, która doprowadziła do śmierci dwóch obywateli Polski. Służby wyjaśniają sprawę. Wdrożono procedure przewidziane w takiej sytuacji – zwiększenie gotowości bojowej niektórych jednostek wojskowych i służb. pic.twitter.com/jCVRc9HVel
— Kancelaria Premiera (@PremierRP) November 15, 2022
It’s a statement the Ministry of Defense of Russia has denied that its missiles have reached Polish territory and has branded the accusations as “deliberate provocation aimed at aggravating the situation”. He also adds that the remains found at the scene “they have nothing to do with russian weapons“, since, he assures, “attacks against targets near the Ukrainian-Polish border were not carried out.”
The “restless” Balts
On the other hand, the Estonian Foreign Minister has published a message on Twitter in support of Poland and the Atlantic Alliance: “The latest news is very disturbing. We are in close contact with Poland and other allies. Estonia is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory. We stand in full solidarity with our allies.”
[Zelenski habla de ‘paz en todo el territorio’ mientras sus tropas amenazan ya Crimea al cruzar el Dnipro]
Latvian Deputy Prime Minister Artis Pabriks, who also holds the post of Defense Minister, has also sent his condolences to the Polish people.
My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. Criminal Russian regime fired missiles which target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime.
— Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) November 15, 2022
“The criminal Russian regime has launched missiles whose objective was not only Ukrainian civilians, but which have hit Poland, which is NATO territory,” he wrote on his official Twitter account. “Latvia stands with its Polish friends and condemns this crime”, has added. The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, has also ruled on the event and has convened the country’s Defense Council.
NATO summit
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kuleba, has also used his official Twitter account to launch a message in which he has called for a NATO summit.
“Ukraine reaffirms its solidarity with Poland and is ready to offer whatever support is necessary. There must be a response against Russia’s actions that must be collective, hard and exemplary. Among the most urgent actions: a NATO summit with the participation of Ukraine to determine new joint actions that force Russia to change the course of the escalation, provide Ukraine with modern aircraft such as F-15 and F-16, defense systems aerial so we can intercept Russian missiles. Protecting the skies of Ukraine means protecting the skies of NATO.”
Ukraine reaffirms its full solidarity with Poland and stands ready to provide any necessary support. Collective response to Russian actions must be tough and principled. Among immediate actions: a NATO summit with Ukraine’s participation to craft further joint actions… 1/2
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) November 15, 2022
In the last few hours, the Russian Army has bombarded civilian infrastructure in more than a dozen Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, the main world leaders – except Russian President Vladimir Putin – met in Bali, Indonesia, on the occasion of the last day of the g20 summit.