The Polish armed forces operational command reported today that an unidentified object was detected in Polish airspace, moving westward, before disappearing from radar screens at 3:40 h.

An Mi-24 helicopter was dispatched to the object's last recorded position for verification. "The helicopter crew located the crash site in an open area near Tarnawa-Kolonia village, Lublin province", the statement detailed.

Tarnawa-Kolonia village is situated approximately 90 km from the Poland-Ukraine border. A video captured from a local residence in the area recorded a loud explosion echoing from a distance, though it did not show the moment the object exploded.

The moment a suspected missile fell in Lublin province, Poland on 30/7. Video: X/Archer83Able

The Polish interior ministry confirmed that the incident created a crater about 10 m wide in an agricultural field.

Lublin police received reports of a loud explosion in Bilgoraj county, located between Tarnawa Kolonia and Biskupice villages. Police officers discovered a crater and scattered debris from an unidentified object, found 2 km from the nearest residential buildings.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk later inspected the scene, stating that "all indications" pointed to a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile. He emphasized, however, that Warsaw sought "100% certainty about the missile type and who launched it."

"There is no direct threat, as the missile fell in an uninhabited area, and we were prepared to shoot it down if it continued flying. There is also no reason to believe the missile was aimed at Poland", he added.

Location where the object fell. Graphics: CNN

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha declared on the same day that a Kh-101 cruise missile had flown into Polish airspace during a coordinated Russian attack campaign, describing the act as an "invasion of NATO airspace."

Russian officials have not yet commented on the incident.

Earlier, the Polish military detected more than 10 missiles in western Ukrainian airspace and deployed fighter jets to protect its territory. "Fighter aircraft and an early warning aircraft were operational, with air defense systems and reconnaissance radars on standby", the Polish defense ministry stated, noting these were precautionary measures.

Crater created by a suspected Russian missile in the Lublin region, Poland on 30/7. Photo: Radio Eska

Since the conflict began, Russian and Ukrainian missiles have strayed into Polish airspace several times. Most of these were Russian cruise missiles targeting western Ukraine, with projectiles often briefly transiting Polish airspace to reach their objectives.

The most serious incident occurred in 11/2022, when an Ukrainian S-300 air defense missile crossed the border and fell into a village on Polish territory, resulting in two fatalities. Subsequently, Poland has regularly activated its air defense systems and deployed fighter jets, ready to respond to large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Pham Giang (According to Reuters, CNN, Kyiv Independent)