Poland accuses Russia of ‘provocation’ after drone crash on its territory

Polish authorities have accused Russia of carrying out a “provocation” after a drone crashed and exploded overnight in eastern Poland amid Moscow’s latest barrage of drone attacks against Ukraine.

According to the Polish Press Agency, the incident occurred in a cornfield in the village of Osiny, where the blast shattered several windows but caused no casualties. Burnt metal and plastic fragments were later recovered at the site.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wroński told Reuters that preliminary findings suggest the downed object was a Russian-made version of the Iranian Shahed drone, frequently used by Moscow in strikes on Ukraine.

The country’s Defence Ministry later clarified the object was most likely not a combat drone but rather a decoy drone carrying a small amount of explosives. Such devices, launched alongside Shahed drones, are intended to confuse air-defence systems.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz condemned the incident as a “provocation” by Russia, recalling previous violations of NATO members’ airspace. He said the provocation came at a “critical moment,” as international efforts continue to reach a settlement to end the war in Ukraine.