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<\/a><\/p>\nPublished On 30 Jul 202630 Jul 2026<\/p>\n
NATO fighter planes have been scrambled as a Russian missile entered Polish airspace and crashed.<\/p>\n
The missile, which entered Polish airspace early on Thursday, was part of a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones launched by Russia against Ukraine overnight, killing at least eight civilians<\/a>, including children, and injuring more than 50.<\/p>\n Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n Concern that Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine risks entangling<\/a> neighbouring NATO states is on the rise. Poland is just one of several alliance members to have confronted repeated stray drones and missiles. Such incidents have become increasingly common in recent months as Russia and Ukraine have launched hundreds of projectiles at one another.<\/p>\n NATO members, including Poland, launched F-16 jets in response to the sighting of the missile, as well as an aerial refuelling aircraft and an airborne early warning plane, a spokesperson for the alliance said.<\/p>\n NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n Polish authorities said the explosion had created a wide crater in the eastern village of Tarnawa-Kolonia. While the incident caused no injuries or damage, it will deepen tensions between NATO and Russia as European countries fear the four-year-old war could spill into their territory.<\/p>\n \u201cPoland and NATO activated their air and ground defences,\u201d NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cThis incident is yet another reckless act by Russia and a dangerous consequence of its war against Ukraine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rushed to the site of the incident. \u201cEverything indicates\u201d that it was a Russian missile, he said.<\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X<\/a> that it was \u201ca Russian Kh-101 cruise missile\u201d that violated NATO airspace.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is yet another clear demonstration that strengthening Ukraine\u2019s air defense now is urgent and serves as a guarantee for the protection of the entire Euro-Atlantic community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Stray drones and missiles have become a core focus for European countries, especially for those on NATO\u2019s eastern flank.<\/p>\n Romania has reported repeated incursions by stray drones into its airspace. On Monday, following the latest incursion of three drones<\/a>, Bucharest summoned Russia\u2019s ambassador to complain about the \u201crepeated violations\u201d.<\/p>\n In May, Estonia and Latvia reported drones entering their airspace from Russia. The government in Riga then collapsed over an argument<\/a> on how to handle the projectiles.<\/p>\n Last year Poland added deployments<\/a> to its air defences in response to the threat. It has also regularly detected violations of its airspace by Russian missiles and drones<\/a>.<\/p>\n