Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that a missile which crashed in Poland was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, while stressing there is 'no reason to think' Poland was the target of the violation.
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Key facts
- Polish PM Donald Tusk confirmed the missile that crashed in Poland was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile.
- Tusk said there is 'no reason to think' Poland was the intended target.
- Defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said it was 'most likely' a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile.
- Tusk said he is in touch with EU and US leaders.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has confirmed that a missile which crashed in Poland was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, according to the Guardian. Despite the airspace violation, Tusk said there was ‘no reason to think’ that Poland was the intended target of the weapon.
The identification of the missile was supported by Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who said it was ‘most likely’ a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile. ‘That’s the most probable hypothesis,’ he said, as reported by the Guardian.
The Kh-101 is an air-launched cruise missile associated with Russia’s military. Its crash on Polish territory represents a violation of the airspace of Poland, a NATO and European Union member state.
Tusk said he is in touch with EU and US leaders following the incident, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of events across Europe.
At the time of reporting, officials had characterised the identification of the missile as the ‘most probable’ explanation, with Tusk seeking to temper concerns by stating there was no indication Poland itself had been targeted.
Why it matters
An airspace violation involving a Russian missile on the territory of a NATO and EU member is a serious escalation risk that draws in wider alliances. Tusk's outreach to EU and US leaders underscores how such incidents can quickly become international security concerns.
Frequently asked questions
What type of missile crashed in Poland?
Polish officials said the missile was 'most likely' a Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile, which the defence minister described as the most probable hypothesis, according to the Guardian.
Does Poland believe it was the target?
No. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there is 'no reason to think' Poland was the target of the missile, according to the Guardian.
Who has Tusk been in contact with about the incident?
Tusk said he is in touch with EU and US leaders following the missile crash, according to the Guardian.
Timeline
- Tusk says ‘no reason to think’ Poland was the target of Russian missiles that violated airspace – Europe live
The Guardian World: Polish PM confirms the missile that crashed in Poland was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile and says he is in touch with EU and US leaders Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirms it’s “most likely” it was a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile. “That’s the most p