Poland officially confirms Russian missile landing on its territory - it flew 450km past US and Polish fighters
The other day we wrote that wreckage of Russian Kh-55 missile (NATO codification: AS-15 Kent) was found in Poland. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak confirmed that a Russian missile had landed on Polish territory, but did not name the type.
Here's What We Know
The wreckage of the missile was found by locals 15 kilometres from the city of Bygdoszcz. It is 450km from the Ukrainian border. Why the Polish air defence system allowed the missile to fly such a distance is currently unknown.
Wicepremier @mblaszczak: Dziś zapoznałem się z wynikami kontroli. Ustalono, że 16 grudnia podległe Dowódcy Operacyjnemu, Centrum Operacji Powietrznych otrzymało ody strony ukraińskiej informacje o zbliżającym się w strony polskiej przestrzeni obiekcie, któryry może być rakietą.
- Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej ???????? (@MON_GOV_PL) May 11, 2023
Mariusz Blaszczak confirmed that the aerial target fell on Polish territory on 16 December 2022. On that day, the Russian Federation carried out another massive shelling of Ukraine. Air defence forces shot down 60 X-101/555 and Kalibr cruise missiles. A total of 76 launches were carried out that day.
Specialists from the Polish Air Force Institute of Technology found that the Kh-55 missile, which has a maximum launch range of 2,500 km, fell on Polish territory. The aforementioned X-555 is a deep upgrade of the X-55.
On December 16, Ukraine notified its western neighbour of the approaching Russian missile. Polish radar stations were also able to detect the target. After that, Polish and US Air Force fighter jets were taken into the sky.
Wicepremier @mblaszczak: Podsumowując ustalenia kontroli - procedury i mechanizmy reagowania w takiej sytuacji zadziałały prawidłowo do poziomu Dowódcy @DowOperSZ, który nie wywiązał się właściwie ze swichiązków.
- Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej ???????? (@MON_GOV_PL) May 11, 2023
Mariusz Blaszczak said that the Air Operations Center reacted correctly to the appearance of an unknown object in Polish airspace. However, the commander did not report this to the Minister of Defence. The reasons for such a decision are not specified. The country's Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, also said the other day that he had learned of the missile's impact late last month.
Source: Polsatnews
