No evidence of deliberate intent in missile strike on Poland, says Polish President Duda
Reuters
There is no evidence of deliberate intent in the missile strike on Polish territory that killed two on Nov. 15, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated after a meeting of Poland’s National Security Council on Nov. 16, according to the Polish RMF 24 news agency.
"There is nothing, absolutely nothing, to suggest that it was an intentional attack on Poland," Duda said.
He explained that the rogue munition was most likely a Russian-made S-300 rocket dating from the 1970s.
"There is no evidence that the rocket was launched from the Russian side," he added. The chances are high that it was an air defense missile from the Ukrainian side, he speculated.
He also stressed Russia launched about 100 missiles against Ukraine, including areas close to Poland.
“Ukraine’s defense was launching their missiles in various directions and it is highly probable that one of these missiles unfortunately fell on Polish territory,” said the Polish President.
“But let me be clear, this is not Ukraine’s fault.”
Following the missile strike, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called an emergency meeting of Poland’s National Security Council, while NATO increased the amount of high readiness forces across the Alliance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian Ambassador to Poland to demand an immediate and detailed explanation of the accident.
Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, said that the incident "would not have happened without Russia’s horrific missile attacks against Ukraine.”
Russia carried out the largest missile and air strike against Ukraine in the full-scale war thus far on Nov. 15, launching over 90 missile. 77 of them were downed by the Ukrainian army.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was heavily damaged in the central, northern and western parts of the country.
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