Poland puts armed forces on heightened readiness
4 Min Read
Warsaw is escalating, putting its armed forces on increased alert after unconfirmed reports said Russian missiles landed on Polish soil.
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A Polish Army soldier (center) gives a mission brief prior to movement in the Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany, during Combined Resolve X May 4, 2018 (US Army)
Warsaw is putting some of its military units on a heightened state of readiness, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday in light of unconfirmed reports about Russian missiles landing in Poland.
"There has been a decision to raise the state of readiness of some combat units and other uniformed services," spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters after an emergency national security council meeting in Warsaw.
The Pentagon said it was unable to verify reports that 2 Russian missiles hit Poland soils, but it is investigating the claims.
Amid reports about 2 missiles that fell in the village of Przewodów in the Lubelskie Voivodeship near the border with Ukraine, Warsaw called for an emergency national security council meeting.
"We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland or the Ukraine border," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
"We have no information right now to corroborate that there has been a missile strike," Ryder told reporters, adding that the Pentagon was "looking into this further."
Meanwhile, in the wake of the unconfirmed reports, Ukraine called for NATO members to convene an "immediate" summit to bring tough measures against Moscow.
"A collective response to Russian actions must be tough and principled. Among immediate actions: a NATO summit with Ukraine's participation to craft further joint actions, which will force Russia to change its course on escalation, providing Ukraine with modern aircraft," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
...which will force Russia to change its course on escalation, providing Ukraine with modern aircraft such as F-15 and F-16, as well as air defense systems, so that we can intercept any Russian missiles. Today, protecting Ukraine’s skies means protecting NATO 2/2
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) November 15, 2022
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday it was important to find out the facts about what caused a deadly explosion in Poland after holding talks with President Andrzej Duda.
"Spoke with President Duda about the explosion in Poland [...] NATO is monitoring the situation and Allies are closely consulting. Important that all facts are established," Stoltenberg tweeted.
Spoke with President Duda @prezydentpl about the explosion in #Poland. I offered my condolences for the loss of life. #NATO is monitoring the situation and Allies are closely consulting. Important that all facts are established.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) November 15, 2022
The Russian Defense Ministry quickly dismissed Poland's statements about "Russian missiles", saying they were a deliberate provocation to try and escalate the situation.
According to Moscow's Defense Ministry, no strikes were carried out by Russian means near the Ukrainian-Polish border.
"Statements by the Polish media and officials about the alleged fall of 'Russian' missiles in the area of the settlement of Przewodow is a deliberate provocation in order to escalate the situation. No strikes were made against targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border by Russian weapons," the ministry said.
They added that "the fragments published in hot pursuit by the Polish media from the scene in the village of Przewodow have nothing to do with Russian weapons."
Macron calls for G20 talks over Poland situation
French President Emmanuel Macron called late Tuesday for talks over the reports alleging that Russian missiles landed in Poland to be held at the G20 summit currently underway in Indonesia, the Elysee Palace told the press.
Efforts were underway to "explore the possibility of a discussion tomorrow morning at the level of leaders... given the presence of all our major European partners and our major allied partners at the G20" summit, attended by Macron, the French presidency said, as quoted by AFP.
This comes after reports said Macron would call his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, after the G20 summit, where Russia is expected to face intense pressure.
A senior Elysee official told journalists that Macron "will call him after the G20," lamenting Putin's "isolation" over the war in Ukraine.
Unlike other European leaders, the French President has kept in contact with Putin and will "continue to talk," as per the official.
