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‘Most likely’ it was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that crashed in Poland, defence minister says
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 probable hypothesis,” he says.
He says Poland is in regular contact with Nato allies on the incident.
Maj Gen Ireneusz Nowak, the Inspector of the Polish Air Force, joins in to offer a bit more detailed briefing.
He says that Russia fired 20-22 Kh-101 missiles inside Ukraine last night as part of its strikes on the country, and two missiles were identified as posing potential threat to Poland’s territory.
An F-16 fighter jet was scrambled to follow one of the missiles and observed the moment of its crash in an uninhabited area.
Key events
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk said he was in contact with other European leaders who “declare full solidarity and readiness for any assistance.”
Polish minister warns against Russian disinformation about missile incident
Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski warned against any potential attempts to blame Ukraine for the incident, saying on X:
“Getting ahead of Putin’s disinformation, please read this: ‘Missiles (Kh-101) are exclusively used by Russia’s strategic air force.’”
Earlier, the Polish PM’s office issued a separate warning against disinformation on social media.
One of the most serious incidents in a Nato country since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
With Poland now confirming it was “most likely” a Russian missile, it appears to be one of the most serious airspace violations of a Nato member state since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression on Ukraine in 2022.
In November 2022, a Ukrainian S-300 surface-to-air missile used to intercept incoming Russian strikes accidentally strayed into Poland and killed two people.
in December 2022, an unarmed Russian Kh-55 air-launched cruise missile flew into Polish airspace, where it was only discovered a few months later.
Some 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace in September 2025.
Multiple incursions were also reported into Romania.
In May, where two people were injured after a drone crashed into an apartment block in the southeast Romanian town of Galati, near the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine requests to join Polish investigation into missile crash, prosecutor says
Ukraine has requested to join the Polish investigation into the missile incident, Lublin prosecutor Grzegorz Trusiewicz told a media briefing.
“This request is currently being considered, and it is possible that they will come here and work with Polish authorities to identify the object that entered Polish airspace and determine what exactly we are dealing with.”
The crash site is being “mapped” and will be examined in detail, he says.
‘Most likely’ it was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that crashed in Poland, defence minister says
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 probable hypothesis,” he says.
He says Poland is in regular contact with Nato allies on the incident.
Maj Gen Ireneusz Nowak, the Inspector of the Polish Air Force, joins in to offer a bit more detailed briefing.
He says that Russia fired 20-22 Kh-101 missiles inside Ukraine last night as part of its strikes on the country, and two missiles were identified as posing potential threat to Poland’s territory.
An F-16 fighter jet was scrambled to follow one of the missiles and observed the moment of its crash in an uninhabited area.
Poland’s Tusk says that it’s “an unusual coincidence” that the incident took place just hours after his meeting with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which they discussed bilateral cooperation, including on antiballistic defence.
“Zelenskyy had warned me that they had precise information on Russia’s upcoming massive attack” on Ukraine, Tusk said.
‘Looks like it was a Russian missile,’ Poland’s PM Tusk confirms
Poland’s PM Tusk is speaking now, chairing an emergency meeting on the incident with senior representatives of the military and the emergency services.
He confirms “a missile” fell on the Polish territory, and says “it looks like” it was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, as reported by Ukraine (9:19).
“Let’s not jump to conclusions before the detailed investigation is complete; we’ll want to be 100 percent certain about what kind of projectile was fired.”
He calls the incident “serious,” but confirms there are no casualties or damage.
He says Poland was prepared to shoot down the rocket if it continued its flight into the Polish territory.
‘Russia’s aggression is a threat to the security of Europe as a whole,’ EU’s Costa says
European Council president António Costa stressed that “Russia’s aggression is a threat to the security of Europe as a whole,” as he condemned the overnight strikes on Ukraine and an airspace violation in Poland.
In a post on X, he said:
“Last night, Russia launched a massive combined strike against Ukraine.
During the attack, Polish airspace was also violated, underlining once again that Russia’s aggression is a threat to the security of Europe as a whole.
My thoughts are with the victims of these attacks. The European Union stands in full solidarity with the Ukrainian and Polish authorities working tirelessly to protect and defend their citizens.
We are stepping up our support to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence, including anti-missile and anti-drone capabilities. Europe will continue to stand united in the face of this aggression.”
We are getting some first pictures from the site of the incident in Poland, via Poland’s state broadcaster TVP Info.
Russia’s war ‘continues to endanger lives far beyond Ukraine,’ Estonia’s president warns
Estonian president Alar Karis warned that Russia’s war “continues to endanger lives far beyond Ukraine,” as he expressed his nation’s solidarity with Ukraine and Poland.
“Another night of Russian attacks. Civilians killed, including children. Homes destroyed. Cities across Ukraine set ablaze. Now a reported explosion & debris on NATO territory in Poland.
Russia’s war continues to endanger lives far beyond Ukraine. We stand with Poland & Ukraine.”
Aftermath of overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine – in pictures
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will chair an emergency meeting on the incident at 10.15 local time (9.15 UK), the Polish government said.
A Russian cruise missile crossed into Poland, Ukraine’s foreign minister says
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said “a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile crossed into Poland as part of Russia’s massive strike against Ukraine, violating Nato airspace.”
Polish authorities have yet to formally identify the object that exploded in eastern Poland.
“This is yet another clear demonstration that strengthening Ukraine’s air defence now is urgent and serves as a guarantee for the protection of the entire Euro-Atlantic community,” Sybiha said.
Referencing recent bitter disputes between Poland and Ukraine over shared history, Sybiha added:
“The Russian missile incursion into Poland also serves as a reminder that there is nothing more urgent for our two countries than countering our common, ages-old enemy, which poses a direct threat to both of our nations.
All other disagreements must be put aside during this brutal war. Our top priority must be our shared security.”
Morning opening: At least eight killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine as Poland investigates airspace violation
Jakub Krupa
At least eight people were killed and dozens injured in another night of heavy Russian attacks on Ukraine, with neighbouring Poland also investigating a reported airspace violation and explosion on its territory.
Russia launched 74 missiles and 284 drones against targets in Ukraine, with casualties reported primarily in Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions.
“This Russian terror once again proves that protection against the Russian missile threat is the most important,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response to the attacks, adding Ukraine faced a “critical shortage of air defence missiles from our partners”.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Poland is examining an impact site in the east of the country after “an unidentified object moving westward was detected in Polish airspace” and crashed near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, some 80 km from the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Local police said that officers investigating reports of a loud bang “discovered a crated and scattered debris from an unidentified object in a field located about 2 km from the nearest buildings.”
Separately, air raid sirens sounded in the eastern city of Lublin. The incident took place just hours after Zelenskyy met in Lublin with Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk.
Tusk is travelling to the impact site this morning, a government spokesperson said.
Separately, I will also keep an eye on the heatwave hitting large parts of western Europe, and ongoing battle against wildfires in France and Spain.
I will bring you all the updates here.
It’s Thursday, 30 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
