Unknown object crosses Polish airspace during air alert in Ukraine. Duda holds talks with NATO Secretary General

The operational command of the Polish Armed Forces informed about this on X. 

It stated that in the morning an unknown air object entered Polish airspace from the Ukrainian border. It was monitored from the moment of its appearance until it disappeared using radar means of the country's air defense system.

"In accordance with the current procedures, the operational commander of the Polish Armed Forces used the forces and means at his disposal," the statement reads. 

According to the Polish radio RFM, eyewitnesses of the incident contacted their hotline. In particular, residents of the Dołhobyczów commune in the Lublin region (Przewodów neighborhood) said that the object was moving at high speed to the west, they heard a loud noise and whistling. 

Currently, searches are underway in the vicinity of Zamość, significant forces have been deployed there. There has been no information about an explosion.

"It may have been only a temporary violation of Polish airspace and this unknown object returned to Ukrainian space," the RFM added. 

Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz responded to the incident. 

"In connection with the appearance of an unidentified object in Polish airspace, state services responded immediately," he wrote. 

Kosiniak-Kamysz added that he is in constant contact with the president, prime minister, chief of the general staff and operational commander of the armed forces.

Poland strengthens air defense combat readiness

The spokesman for the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, Jacek Goryszewski, said that the air defense forces are on high alert. His words are reported by Polsat News.

"To ensure the safety of our airspace in connection with the massive missile attack by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, the combat readiness of our air defense systems and the next pairs of fighter jets has been increased," he said. 

The spokesperson added that the military is studying radar records to find out the reasons for the violation of Polish airspace and the flight path of the unknown object. In addition, a ground search is underway, involving 20 military personnel.

"We are studying all the information that comes to us. But there are no signs that anyone observed the explosion or found any debris," said Goryszewski, noting that it is not yet known whether the unknown object fell or continued to fly.

Polish President convenes urgent meeting with military

Subsequently, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced on social network X that he had convened an urgent meeting. The meeting will be attended by Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish Chief of General Staff General Wiesław Kukuła, and Operational Commander of the Armed Forces Major General Maciej Klisz. The National Security Council meeting will begin at 2 p.m. Kyiv time. 

In addition, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held a meeting with the heads of law enforcement agencies and the military. This was reported by the Prime Minister's Office. 

The meeting was attended by the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense and the heads of special services.

Later, Tusk also spoke with President Duda. The details of the conversation are unknown, but the prime minister emphasized that they are all "working for Poland's security.”

After a meeting at the National Security Bureau, Polish Chief of Staff General Wiesław Kukuła said that everything indicates that a Russian missile violated the country's airspace. This is confirmed by radar data from Poland and its allies, Polsat News reports.

"One of these missiles crossed the Polish border and then left. Everything points to this, although we are still confirming it, checking on the ground," he added.

Kukuła also said that fighter jets had been dispatched to track the missile, which would have shot it down in case of a threat.

Polish President held talks with NATO Secretary General

Subsequently, Andrzej Duda held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. This was reported by the head of the Polish President's political cabinet, Marcin Mastalerek. The conversation concerned the violation of Polish airspace.

"From the very beginning, we have been in constant contact with our allies," Mastalerek said.

At the same time, Stoltenberg noted that NATO is monitoring the situation and will remain in touch until the facts are established. 

"NATO remains vigilant," the Secretary General summarized.

No traces of missile crash were found in Poland

According to Polish media reports, the missile or its wreckage could have fallen near Wożuchyn, Tomaszów County. At the same time, the police did not detect any aerial object and ended the search. Małgorzata Pawłowska, a police spokeswoman in Tomaszów Lubelski, told Ukrinform in a commentary.

"We do not confirm the information reports about the alleged fall of a rocket near the village of Wożuchyn. Therefore, we are completing our work to find the object," she said.

The spokeswoman added that searches also continued in Zamość and Hrubieszów counties. They also yielded no results.

• On the night of December 29, Russia launched several groups of Shahed drones that attacked Ukraine, and in the morning the terrorists launched missiles. They hit high-rise buildings, educational institutions, a shopping center and a maternity hospital in different cities. As a result, there are wounded and dead.