An unidentified object, likely a smuggling drone, crashed in Majdan-Sielec, Poland near the Ukrainian border on August 19th, causing a small explosion. Local police and the Ministry of National Defense are investigating.
Initial Crash Details
The unidentified object, believed to be a drone, crashed near Majdan-Sielec in Tomaszów County around 6 PM. The Ministry of National Defense informed Polish Radio that this was likely a smuggling drone rather than a military one.
Investigation & Findings
“The unknown flying object did not carry military characteristics,” said Ministry of National Defense spokesperson to TVN24. “The Tomaszów Lubelski County Police received a report through the Emergency Reporting Center about finding remnants of an unidentified flying object in Majdan Sielec. All services and the prosecutor’s office were notified, and the site of the object’s discovery was secured. No one was injured in the incident.”
August Incident in Osiny
Less than three weeks earlier, on the night of August 19th, a military drone crashed in Osiny, also on the Lubelszczyźn region, causing an explosion. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported at the time that no airspace violations were recorded from either Ukraine or Belarus.
Government Response
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz informed that the drone was Russian. In response, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed a protest note to the Russian Embassy. “This is not the first time that NATO or the EU member states have been tested in this way,” said government spokesperson Adam Szłapka. “This is how [the Russians] create fear. We cannot be afraid. We must inform our allies and our task is to have our systems work as best as possible.”
