Overview
- Polish police and rescuers discovered a roughly 10‑metre crater and scattered debris in an uninhabited field near Tarnawa‑Kołonia in the Lublin region after residents heard a large explosion early on Thursday.
- Polish military radars tracked an object entering Polish airspace and moving west, emergency alerts were issued and fighters plus a Mi‑24 helicopter were scrambled before the probable impact site was located.
- Ukrainian officials publicly identified the object as a Russian Kh‑101 cruise missile while Poland’s military prosecutor has opened a formal investigation and forensic work on the debris is ongoing.
- Senior Polish ministers visited the site and allied governments including France and EU officials condemned the airspace violation, saying the incident underscores risks to NATO territory during Russia’s long‑range strikes on Ukraine.
- The episode follows prior cross‑border incidents such as the 2022 Przewodów strike and 2025 drone incursions, and authorities warn that final attribution will shape possible political or military responses and wider security plans.