By Aurora Almendral -
NBC News
A long-range Russian cruise missile heading toward western Ukraine briefly entered Polish territory overnight, prompting the country's armed forces to initiate "all necessary procedures" to protect its airspace, including activating Polish and allied aviation.
The incident occurred as Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine.
On Friday, Russia attacked power facilities across Ukraine, causing blackouts and killing at least three people.
The missile, moving at a speed of nearly 500 miles per hour, was in Polish airspace for 39 seconds at 4:23 a.m. (11:23 p.m. ET Saturday), going about a mile into the country, it said. the Polish army.
Even a mistaken incursion by a Russian missile into the airspace of NATO member Poland risks escalating and expanding the war in the neighboring country.
[Ukraine fears losing war with Russia if US Congress does not grant more military aid]
On Sunday, Poland's Foreign Ministry vowed to "demand explanations from Russia regarding another violation of the country's airspace."
"Above all, we call on the Russian Federation to end terrorist airstrikes against the inhabitants and territory of Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement on X.
The last time something like this happened, in December 2023, Poland summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires demanding explanations.
Before the actions of the Polish armed forces, Ukrainian media reported on Telegram that during a major attack in Lviv, Russian missiles were flying near the border with Poland.
"Polish and allied aircraft have been activated, which may result in increased noise levels, especially in the southeast of the country," Poland's armed forces said in X.