The Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, confirmed on Wednesday that a Russian drone fell and exploded in a cornfield near the village of Osiny, in the province of Lublin, in the eastern part of the country.
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The official described the event as a Russian provocation at a time when peace talks are progressing regarding the war in the region of Ukraine.
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Were there any victims after the explosion of the Russian drone?
The incident occurred during the night of August 19-20. The drone detonated upon impact with the ground, leaving a crater and affecting an area of up to 10 meters in vegetation, as well as breaking windows in nearby homes. Local authorities reported that no victims or injuries were recorded.
At the site, remains of burnt metal and plastic were found, which allowed the experts to conclude that it was a military drone. According to the initial analysis, the device would be a decoy drone of Russian origin with a Chinese engine, designed to self-destruct.
Provocation in the midst of international tension
Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that this episode adds to other similar ones in which Russian drones have violated the airspace of countries like Lithuania and Romania, considering them deliberate acts of harassment towards NATO members. “We are facing a clear provocation from Russia," he declared.
On the other hand, General Dariusz Malinowski explained that the drone was not detected by radars because it was flying at a very low altitude, which would have allowed it to enter without being intercepted.
The regional prosecutor’s office of Lublin opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident, while the Polish army continues to inspect the area.
The Polish government stated that it is in contact with its NATO allies and will reinforce surveillance in its airspace. This comes in a delicate context as international peace negotiations are taking place to end the war in Ukraine.