Polish Airspace Violated by Russian Kh-101 Missile; Zelenskyy Demands Action

Following the crash of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile near the Polish village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western allies for decisive pressure on Russia and urgent air defense supplies.

Violation of Polish Airspace and F-16 Scramble

On Thursday, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile was detected in Polish airspace, falling and detonating near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia in the Lublin region. In response to the threatening incident, the Polish military immediately scrambled F-16 fighter jets.

The violation occurred during the night from Wednesday to Thursday amid a massive Russian missile attack on Ukrainian territory, including Lviv. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported that an unidentified object was detected at 3:40 AM and vanished from radars at 3:46 AM, with its likely crash site located in the Tarnawa-Kolonia area.

Zelenskyy Calls for Air Defense Deliveries and Pressure on Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the incident in a Telegram post, emphasizing that international reaction cannot be limited solely to condemning Moscow’s actions. He stressed the need for air defense missiles and a type of pressure on Russia that can stop the war, attacks, and terror.

The Ukrainian leader noted that a steady supply of missiles for air defense systems such as Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T, as well as other modern anti-aircraft systems, remains crucial for protecting the population.

Deputy Minister Tomczyk Confirms Russian Kh-101 Missile

Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk officially confirmed on TVN24 that a dangerous Russian missile crashed within Poland’s borders. After speaking with Operational Commander General Nowak, he verified it was a nuclear-capable Kh-101 cruise missile that exploded upon impact.

Tomczyk reported that while Russians typically launch 10 to 20 missiles, on this night they used a total of around 70 projectiles, with approximately 20 heading directly toward Poland around 3:00 AM. He thanked the soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces, pilots, and allies for securing the operation.

Prosecutor’s Office Discloses Presence of Explosive Material

The District Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin is investigating the incident and confirmed in the afternoon that the recovered object is most likely a Kh-101 missile. Prosecutors established that the projectile carried a “significant amount” of explosive material, confirming the direct threat it posed to Polish territory.