NATO, Poland Say Missile Strike That Killed Two Civilians Was Most Likely Ukrainian

The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and NATO member Poland both said Wednesday that a missile strike that killed two people in Poland appeared to be unintentional and most likely came from Ukrainian air defense.

“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 Polish President Andrzej Duda. “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, to suggest that it was an intentional attack on Poland.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg agreed with the findings, telling the BBC that “accidents happen” in war. He added that Russia was still “ultimately responsible” for the missile strike because “it would not have happened if Russia hadn’t waged a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.”

On Tuesday, a missile strike killed two people in Polish farmland. Initial reports indicated that it was a Russian missile.

“Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy facilities Tuesday with its biggest barrage of missiles yet, striking targets across the country and causing widespread blackouts. A senior U.S. intelligence official said missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, where two people were killed,” the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

“A second person told The Associated Press that apparent Russian missiles struck a site in Poland about 15 miles from the Ukrainian border,” the Associated Press added. “If confirmed, the strike would mark the first time in the war that Russian weapons have come down on a NATO country.”