The panicked atmosphere was well felt in the corridors of Poland's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday morning.
The schedules have been changed.
Yeshivas Bhola were convened.
Senior officials and secretaries passed each other in the corridors.
"We are in a new situation," a senior official in the office to which I was invited for a meeting on completely different issues told me.
"Two innocent farmers were killed. Although it is not known at the moment whether the Russians or the Ukrainians fired the missile, and it is not known whether it was done on purpose or by mistake - from now on Poland is part of the war. This is how it is perceived in the world. This has consequences in all respects. We have taken steps to increase the security, but the consequences are also economic, energetic, touristic, in every aspect."
Shortly afterwards, the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, predictably stated that there was no proof that the shooting was intentional.
Many here thought that it was a Polish way to use the "lightning storm that activated the missiles" exercise that is a favorite of Israel's leaders.
Because let's say it was a deliberate Russian shooting, will Poland enter a full-scale war with Russia because of it?
Despite the bellicose statements, the Poles clearly distinguish between massive aid to Ukraine, and active participation in the war.
In front of the hotel in the center of the city, in the eternal fog, hot food is distributed every evening to the masses of refugees, but also to the local Poles.
"The line has gotten longer in recent weeks," says one of the passers-by.
The local TV summarizes the crazy price increases
"One thing is clear: the only reason for what happened is the criminal Russian aggression," says Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pavel Yabolsky.
"If Russia had not attacked Ukraine and had not carried out this attack on civilian infrastructure, we would not have had to deal with this situation. Russia is the only one responsible. There is no ambiguity here. This war must stop. Putin must be arrested."
But bellicose declarations are one thing, while actual war is another.
economic price
But even without Poland's military involvement in the war, its painful consequences are felt by every citizen.
Even before the missiles fell on its territory, Poland was affected by the war more than any country in the world.
The border between it and Ukraine is spread over 535 km. Ammunition secretly passes through it to the insiders of the country fighting for its life against the Russians. The opposite direction was taken by 1.4 million refugees who were welcomed with open arms, but put quite a burden on the economy and infrastructure here.
"Ten percent of the residents of Warsaw are now Ukrainians. At least these are the estimates," says Michael, my escort from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The war greatly reduced the number of tourists coming to Poland, especially from the warring countries.
In front of the hotel where he puts me in the center of the city, in the eternal fog, hot food is distributed every evening to the masses of refugees, but also to the local Poles.
"The line has gotten longer in recent weeks," says one of the passers-by.
The local TV summarizes the crazy price increases.
45 percent extra on the flour.
100 percent increase in the price of sugar.
147 percent in coal.
42 percent in the price of chicken.
And above all, energy prices soared by 300 to 400 percent.
Yabolsky claims that Putin is deliberately harming the energy sources of Ukraine and the world in general.
"On Tuesday, there was the largest missile attack on Ukraine - more than 80 missiles were fired by the Russians and mainly damaged civilian infrastructure, power plants, etc. Putin wants to cut off the people from water, electricity and heat. He wants to create a humanitarian disaster and force people to leave their cities to create More pressure on Ukraine and other countries. These are crimes against humanity, because he deliberately attacks civilian infrastructure."
Time to get closer
Maimon and Betty Rivait, an Israeli couple who operate the "Bakif" restaurant in the center of Warsaw, agree.
They feel the consequences of the economic situation very well.
"In relation to Corona, the situation is better," says Maimon, "but we feel the change caused by the war. Fewer Poles enter the restaurant. We also begin to hear anger from the local residents here towards the Ukrainians. Although Poland helps the Ukrainians a lot, but the residents are the ones who pay the price. Inflation The official figure is 20 percent, but the actual price increase is higher."
Betty adds: "We feel the situation. Bakeries and businesses are closing. There are factories that have already started mass layoffs. Here in the restaurant you see more people sharing portions. I hope we survive it. The falling of the missiles does something in the stomach. There is more pressure, and the war will be long." .
Indeed, by all accounts, the war will not end soon, which will put two urgent issues before the new-old Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at least from the Polish point of view.
First, even in the Jewish community, and even more so in the government ranks, they hope that Netanyahu will bring to an end the crisis between the countries that Prime Minister Yair Lapid started, which started when he was foreign minister.
"Lapid's public statement to the ambassador in Israel not to return from the vacation of his homeland was actually his exile. It was not polite. On our part, there is no problem in principle with sending a new ambassador," says Yabolsky.
The second issue is of course Ukraine.
The account of the Poles with the Russians about the Second World War, and in general about the past, is still open.
They remember very well the repeated Russian invasions of their territory throughout history, the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact that divided Poland between Germany and Russia before the war, and the oppressive communist rule after it.
For them, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a precursor to what is expected of them if Russia is not restrained.
Faced with such a threat, they would want Israel on their side.
Warsaw understands that Israel is not Poland, and that it has a variety of other considerations regarding Russia.
And yet, the expectation in the government here - perhaps it is more accurate to say the hope - is a significant step by Netanyahu in favor of Ukraine and against Russia.
Despite the current crisis, following the disputes over the manner of commemorating the Holocaust, Poland considers Israel a strategic ally.
As far as Poland is concerned, she and Israel are on the same side of the international and historical map.
Or at the very least, should be on the same side.
As members of NATO and the European Union, the Poles see themselves as a Western country by all means.
For them, just as the entire West is united against Russia, so should Israel be, for its qualities and uniqueness.
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