Deutsche Welle reported on July 30: During Russia's overnight large-scale bombing of its neighbor Ukraine, a missile likely launched by Russia struck in Poland, creating a crater with a diameter of up to 10 meters.
Local police said residents reported hearing a massive explosion around 4 a.m. local time, which shook windows. Shortly thereafter, police quickly discovered a huge "crater" and "remains of an unidentified object."
Russia's attacks targeted not only Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, but also western cities such as Lviv. The impact site in Poland was located in a field near Lublin, approximately 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk visited the scene accompanied by the Defense Minister and Interior Minister. Before departure, Tusk wrote on social media: "During Russia's large-scale missile attack on western Ukraine, there was an incident involving the violation of Polish airspace. I have therefore convened a coordination group, including the Defense Minister and relevant departments. They have been working on-site for several hours and are systematically briefing me on all aspects of the event." In Lublin, Tusk stated: "All signs point to a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, but we do not wish to jump to conclusions before the full investigation is complete." Russian aircraft, drones, and missiles have repeatedly violated the airspace of multiple NATO member states.
Commentary: What is most alarming about this incident is that the conflict has already begun to spill over. Russian missiles and drones have repeatedly approached—and even entered—the airspace of NATO member countries. Each accidental incursion could serve as a trigger for escalation. As a frontline NATO country, Poland must maintain a firm stance to reassure domestic public opinion while refraining from hastily labeling the incident as a deliberate attack that might activate NATO’s collective defense clause. Instead, it can only conduct investigations and maintain communication with allies. Russia will likely attribute the event to a missile malfunction or an accidental deviation from course. Meanwhile, NATO countries remain highly vigilant but are reluctant to directly pull themselves into the war. As long as large-scale air raids continue, similar cross-border incidents will be difficult to fully prevent. The buffer zone in Eastern Europe could be disrupted at any moment by a single accident. Ultimately, this missile landing in an open field was fortunate—but if next time it crashes into a residential area, all parties will find it impossible to cool down calmly. The border risks stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict are continuously testing Europe’s entire security foundation.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872182159083594/
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