Poland blast likely caused by Ukraine

Nato says Russia is the ultimate culprit for the bombing as it started the war

NNorth Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (Nato’s) secretary-general said Tuesday’s blast in Poland was likely caused by an Ukrainian air defence missile, but Russia was ultimately responsible because it started the war.

The missile that landed on a Polish grains facility, killing two, initially raised global alarm that the Ukraine war could spill into neighbouring countries.

News that it was likely not fired by Russia helped ease the pressure, but did not clear Moscow of blame, Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after an emergency meeting of Nato ambassadors. “Let me be clear, this is not Ukraine’s fault,” Stoltenberg said.

“Russia bears responsibility for what happened in Poland yesterday, because this is a direct result of the ongoing war and a wave of attacks from Russia against Ukraine yesterday [Tuesday].”

No change in status

Stoltenberg said the incident proved the risks of the war in Ukraine but had not changed the military alliance’s assessment of threat against its members.

Meanwhile Poland signalled it would in the end not invoke Nato’s article 4, which provides for consultations among allies in the face of a security threat, since the blast was likely caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile and not by Russia.