Russia targets children, fires cruise missile through NATO territory, and leaves a huge crater in Poland

©picture alliance / Picvario | Komsomolskaya Pravda

Poland is investigating an unidentified object that crashed on Polish territory during a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine.

The Polish Operational Army Command reported via X that air defense radars detected the object over Polish airspace, after which it crashed near the eastern village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, about 70 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The incident occurred around 3:40 a.m. local time, during “intense attack operations” by the Russian Air Force. Radars tracked at least ten missiles over western Ukraine. A Polish F-16 was dispatched to identify and potentially intercept the object, but it disappeared from radar. A helicopter crew subsequently located the suspected crash site in an undeveloped area, two kilometers from the nearest houses. Police confirmed that local residents heard a loud bang. No one was injured.

Russia violates NATO airspace with cruise missile

Prime Minister Donald Tusk was reportedly on his way to the crash site. Later that morning, at 10:15 a.m., he convened an emergency meeting with Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile had entered Polish airspace, thereby violating NATO airspace. According to Sybiha, the incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.

Systematic bombing of apartment buildings in Ukraine

President Zelensky confirmed that Russia deployed more than 70 missiles and 280 drones during the nighttime attacks. Speaking on X, he reported at least eight deaths and stated that 260 drones had been shot down. Many cruise missiles were also reportedly intercepted, but it is unclear to what extent ballistic missiles could be stopped. “Despite an acute shortage of air defense missiles, our military is accomplishing incredible feats," Zelensky said. He warned that homes, businesses, and infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. Zelensky urged allies to promptly supply air defense missiles capable of countering ballistic missiles. “Otherwise, it could cost lives,” the president said.

Polish police found a crater about ten meters wide at the crash site, along with debris from the unidentified object. Authorities emphasize that the investigation is still ongoing and that it has not yet been definitively determined exactly what crashed.

Russia targets children

Six people, including two children, were killed last night in a Russian ballistic missile attack on a village in central Ukraine, according to local authorities. One person was killed in the capital, Kyiv, and another in Poltava. More than thirty people were injured across the country.

In a village near the city of Kryvy Rih, the missile struck a family’s home. The head of the local military administration confirmed the news via Telegram. Two girls, aged 5 and 12, were killed in the attack, along with four adults. Eight others were injured, including two boys aged 6 and 15.

"Threat to all of Europe"

"The violation of Polish airspace underscores once again that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of all of Europe." European Council President Antonio Costa said this on Thursday in response to the crash of an unidentified object in Poland during a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine.

©picture alliance / Picvario | Komsomolskaya Pravda