Russia refuses to explain missile that reportedly entered Poland’s airspace, calls accusations ‘baseless’

Russia’s chargé d’affaires to Poland, Andrey Ordash, declined to give an explanation for the missile that reportedly entered Poland’s airspace during Friday’s attack on Ukraine. Ordash told RIA Novosti that Russia would wait until “specific evidence is presented because these accusations are baseless.”

Early December 29, Polish authorities reported that an “unidentified object” had been detected by the country’s air defense radars. Later, Poland’s top military official, General Wiesław Kukuła, said that “all signs indicate” a Russian missile entered and then exited Polish airspace. According to Polish authorities, the missile flew 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) into Polish territory before changing course. It was shot down by air defense systems after it returned to Ukraine.

On the evening of December 29, the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry handed Ordash a note demanding an explanation for the incident.