Poland protests to Russian ambassador over missile incursion

Poland formally protested to Russia's ambassador following confirmation that a missile striking the village of Tarnawa Kolonia in the Lublin region was a Russian Kh-101 weapon. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the diplomatic summons on Friday after investigators identified the projectile's origin and characteristics.

Polish officials emphasized that the incident represented an unacceptable escalation at the European Union and NATO border. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman stated that Poland conveyed its "unequivocal condemnation" of actions threatening the security of a sovereign state, while underscoring that Russia's invasion of Ukraine constituted the root cause of the incursion.

Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that the missile was manufactured near Moscow during the second quarter of the current year, indicating Russia is deploying newly produced weapons against Ukraine. This finding supports assessments that Russian wartime stockpiles have become significantly depleted following years of sustained military operations. The same missile strike that crossed into Polish territory killed at least eight civilians in Ukraine and injured more than fifty.

The incident marks the latest in a pattern of drone and missile incursions affecting Poland, Romania, and Baltic states, raising concerns that the Ukraine conflict could expand beyond its current borders. NATO and European leaders swiftly condemned Russia and expressed support for Poland. A Ukrainian expert who examined the missile site confirmed its Russian origin and model, noting that this particular weapon type is used exclusively by Russian strategic aviation.