Air strike that took us all closer to war

THIS was the escalation NATO leaders have been bracing for over Ukraine.

Thousands of missiles have been fired by Moscow’s troops – many shot down as they screamed towards civilian targets.

Soon after the hit on Przewodow, just inside Poland, a flurry of calls were made between NATO’s 30 member states.

Poland called for article 4 escalation – a demand for NATO to meet and discuss how to react. US intelligence and Ukraine’s President Zelensky said it was a Russian hit, leaving the world fearing all-out war.

NATO analysts established whether Russia targeted Poland or if it was an overshoot by Ukraine’s air defences or Russia. Hours later, US President Joe Biden cast doubt on whether it was a deliberate attack, calming the mood.

The G20 summit also meant western ambassadors were able talk unofficially.

It appears one or two Russian-made S-300 air-defence missiles hit Poland, killing two victims. These ground-to-air weapons, from old Soviet stocks, are used by Ukraine to intercept strikes. But Russia has adapted S-300s to be fired at ground targets. This is why they were suspected.

Even if the strike was Ukrainian, as NATO now state probable, the S-300s would not be fired without provocation. So a Russian missile was likely fired close to Poland, triggering Ukraine’s air defences.

Last night President Zelensky insisted the strike was not Ukrainian. But for now a catastrophic escalation has been averted.