- WIADOMOŚCI
Russia's attack. Poland's exemplary response
Last night, Russia carried out one of its largest missile attacks targeting Ukraine. From a salvo of over twenty Russian cruise missiles, one entered Polish airspace and struck territory nearly one hundred kilometres from the Polish-Ukrainian border.
On Thursday morning, the Polish Prime Minister convened an urgent meeting of the crisis management team, attended by key commanders and representatives of the services responsible for the security of Polish airspace.
Kh-101 struck Poland
Information provided by the head of the Polish government indicates that there was no direct threat to human life or health, and the Polish Air Force was prepared to shoot down the missile should it have continued its flight.
Most likely, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, launched by one of the Russian Tu-95MS bombers, struck Poland. “The attack was zonal in nature – it covered the whole of Ukraine, including its western oblasts directly adjacent to the border with Poland. The Russian aviation launched a total of 20–22 Kh-101 missiles,” said the Operational Commander of the Branches of the Polish Armed Forces (Dowództwo Operacyjne Rodzajów Sił Zbrojnych – DORSZ), Major General Ireneusz Nowak.
Subsequently, the head of the Operational Command (DORSZ) reported on the measures taken by the Polish command. The combat readiness level was raised for a pair of F-16 fighter jets from the 32nd Tactical Air Base (32. Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego) in Łask and for pairs of MiG-29 aircraft from the base in Malbork. In both cases, the readiness for take-off was 15 minutes. Meanwhile, for the Saab 340 early warning aircraft, this readiness was set at 30 minutes.
Readiness was also raised for a Mi-24 helicopter and all ground-based defence systems (including allied Patriot systems belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands). “All of this was at the highest level of readiness,” said Gen. Nowak. Furthermore, the Polish aviation was reinforced by an Airbus A330 MRTT aerial refuelling aircraft, which took off from Cologne airport.
As Prime Minister Tusk stated – referring to information provided by the Operational Commander of the Branches of the Armed Forces, Major General Ireneusz Nowak – all national and allied air defence systems were put on alert. The systems were reported to have operated without failure, and the objects were continuously tracked.
See also
Ukraine's Offer
On Wednesday, a meeting took place between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Polish-Ukrainian cooperation on anti-ballistic defence was reportedly discussed. Zelensky is said to have warned the Polish Prime Minister of a massive Russian attack on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said on Thursday that the latest Russian strike is further evidence of the need to strengthen Ukrainian air defence. In his view, the construction of an “air shield” over Ukraine should become an urgent priority for the entire Euro-Atlantic community. “This is not about charity, but about pragmatic solutions to improve our common security,” he emphasised.
The Ukrainian diplomat also announced that he had proposed resuming talks with allies on possible ways to protect Ukrainian airspace with the participation of foreign partners.
