Poland reported that a Russian military drone entered its airspace and detonated in a cornfield near the village of Osiny, approximately 100 kilometers from Warsaw, in what officials are calling a significant “provocation.” Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz addressed reporters, emphasizing the incident’s timing amid ongoing peace talks, which had fostered hopes for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. “Once again, we are facing a provocation from the Russian Federation,” he stated.
The explosion occurred in the early hours and, while there were no casualties reported, windows in several nearby homes were shattered. Kosiniak-Kamysz condemned the incursion, stating it undermines efforts for diplomatic resolution in the region and expressing frustration at Russia’s recurring violations.
In a series of comments that highlighted Poland’s ongoing support for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski denounced the incident as “a new violation of our airspace from the east.” He indicated that the Polish government intends to lodge a formal protest regarding the violation through diplomatic channels.
Video footage captured by Polish media illustrated the dramatic explosion, accompanied by images of debris such as an engine and propeller believed to be parts of the drone. General Dariusz Malinowski clarified that the drone was a decoy, equipped with a self-destruct warhead but was not armed for direct attack.
This recent event is not isolated; Russian drones and missiles have previously crossed into the airspace of several NATO countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania, since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Notably, less than a month prior, a Russian drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, ultimately being discovered in a military training area; it was later revealed to have explosives that did not detonate.
The drone involved in the recent Polish incident is believed to be a model known as Gerbera, frequently utilized by Russian forces as a distraction during aerial assaults on Ukraine. In the past, Poland has also registered incidents involving other Russian projectiles crossing into its airspace, including a missile that struck Ukraine in 2023.
Kosiniak-Kamysz underscored the need for Poland to enhance its military preparedness: “We must expand the operational capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces and anti-drone systems.” Earlier statements from the Polish army indicated that they had not detected airspace violations during the night of the drone explosion.
