Polish investigators have confirmed that the missile strike that resulted in the deaths of two farmers in the border village of Przewodow was fired by Ukrainian forces, according to a report by the Rzeczpospolita newspaper. The findings of the investigation directly contradict claims made by Ukrainian authorities, who had previously blamed Russia for the incident.
The Rzeczpospolita report cited a comprehensive report prepared by investigators who examined all available forensic evidence in the case. A spokesperson for the National Prosecutor’s Office acknowledged receipt of the classified document and stated that they have sent an application for legal assistance to Ukraine.
So far, Ukraine has not made any materials available to Poland, according to the newspaper. The tragedy in Przewodow occurred in November last year during a Russian missile barrage targeting Western Ukraine. The two victims, aged 59 and 60, were killed when a projectile hit a grain farm.
Immediately after the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labelled it as a “Russian missile strike on collective security.” However, hours later, the Polish government reported that the weapon was most likely Ukrainian. Despite this, Ukraine continued to insist that Russia was responsible.
The Rzeczpospolita report reveals that Polish investigators have identified the missile responsible as a 5V55 model, which is known to be used in the Soviet-designed S-300 air defense system. They have also determined the precise location from which the missile originated in Ukraine. Given the range of the interceptor, it is clear that it could not have been launched from any Russian positions at that time, including those in Belarus.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Ukrainian authorities had expressed their willingness to collaborate in investigating the incident. Aleksey Danilov, the secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, claimed that they had evidence of a Russian trace and offered to share it with Poland.
However, Polish prosecutors declined to undertake a joint investigation and did not permit Ukrainian officials to visit the site of the strike, citing legal constraints. Instead, they sought assistance through established bilateral channels. The publication also mentioned another incident in Konstantinovka, a city under Ukraine’s control in Donbass, where a missile struck a market, killing at least 15 civilians.
President Zelensky had accused Russia of being responsible for the strike in Konstantinovka. However, The New York Times recently published findings suggesting that a Ukrainian Buk missile was likely responsible for the deaths.
The situation continues to escalate tensions between Ukraine and Poland. Warsaw recently warned Zelensky to “never insult us again” after he made disparaging remarks about Polish people. The diplomatic relations between the two countries have become strained, with Poland demanding an apology from Ukraine.
The findings of the Polish investigation into the missile strike in Przewodow could further complicate the relationship between the two nations. It remains to be seen how Ukraine will respond to the evidence presented by Polish authorities and whether they will cooperate in the investigation.
Source link
