The Russian missile attacks on Ukraine today - one of which either strayed into or was intentionally aimed Poland - were a gesture of defiance at the world's growing hostility to Russia. Russian missiles are notoriously inaccurate, but hitting a NATO allies seems an unlikely mistake. The question now is whether Poland will demand that NATO act in some way to send a harsher message to Putin so this does not happen again. JL
DW reports:
Russian missile strikes have crossed into Poland. Two people died this afternoon after a projectile struck Przewodow, a Polish village near the border with Ukraine. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called an emergency meeting with national security ministers and defense ministers. Moldova also lost power Tuesday temporarily, after Russian missiles strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure downed a key power transmission line to the small nation to the south of Ukraine.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called an emergency meeting with national security and defense ministers amid reports of two deaths near the Polish border with Ukraine.Russian missile strikes have crossed into Poland, killing two people, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reported on Tuesday.
Polish media reported that two people died Tuesday afternoon after a projectile struck Przewodow, a Polish village near the border with Ukraine.
The AP cited a US intelligence official, but the Pentagon said it could not confirm the reports.
"We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland near the Ukraine border. I can tell you that we don't have any information at this time to corroborate those reports and are looking into this further," Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder told a news briefing.
Russia's Defence Ministry denied the reports.
Poland convenes emergency meeting
Piotr Mueller, the spokesman for Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, wrote on Twitter that the premier has called for an emergency meeting with national security ministers and defense ministers.
Mueller said the urgent meeting was due to a "crisis situation."
Neighbors respond to reports
Latvian Deputy Prime Minister Artis Pabriks, who is also Latvia's defense minister, said explosions in the Polish village were caused by a missile strike, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Pabriks told the newspaper that Polish officials confirmed the news about missiles strikes.
"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," Pabriks wrote on Twitter.
The Hungarian government spokesperson, Zoltan Kovacs, said that Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has convened a meeting of the Defense Council as well. The meeting is underway.
Kovacs said the meeting was in response to the "stop the oil transfer through the Druzbha pipeline and the missile hitting territory of Poland."
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote on Twitter that if Poland confirmed the alleged Russian missile strikes, it "will be a further escalation by Russia."
Fiala added that Czech Republic stood "firmly behind our EU and NATO ally."
Russia missiles strike Ukrainian cities, knock out power in Moldova
Russian missiles struck briefly multiple Ukrainian cities earlier on Tuesday, hours after Ukrainian President Zelenksyy delivered a video address to leaders of the G20 in Bali, Indonesia, calling upon leaders to end the war and isolate Russia diplomatically.
Zelenskyy said some 85 Russian missiles rained down on several Ukrainian cities, including in capital city Kyiv.
Other major Ukrainian cities reported massive power outages following the strikes.
Moldova also lost power Tuesday temporarily, after Russian missiles strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure downed a key power transmission line to the small nation to the south of Ukraine.
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