The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a protest after a military drone exploded over Osiny on the night of August 19/20, describing the incident as a deliberate provocation and an element of hybrid warfare; investigations point to Belarus as the drone’s country of origin.
Protest by Polish MOFA
Following the military drone explosion in the Lubelszczyźnie region on the night of August 19/20, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a protest note to the Russian embassy, describing the incident as a conscious provocation and a component of hybrid warfare. The note will also be translated and sent to Moscow.
Accusations and Violations
In its protest, Poland alleges that the Russian Federation violated the 1992 Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation, the 1944 Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation, and numerous other international regulations. It portrays the event as a deliberate provocation, an element of hybrid warfare, and another highly unfriendly act against Poland and European states, underscoring its connection to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Investigation of Drone Explosion
The prosecutor’s office reports that the drone, which detonated and fell in Osiny in Łuków County, is believed to have approached from Belarus. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that it crashed onto a cornfield after hitting an electrical line. Accordingly, three power lines showing fresh damage traces were secured, and the ground at the site will be examined for explosive residues.
Operations at the Explosion Site
Prosecutors continue to inspect the crash site, which is visited daily by about fifty officials and six prosecutors. Since Wednesday, witnesses have reported hearing a sudden boom and flash at the time of the explosion. One local resident explained that people in the area sometimes store large gas cylinders, while another described the panic and confusion as “what war are we in?”. No injuries were reported.
Source: Gazeta,
