Russian drone hits Poland: Defense minister calls it a provocation

Poland's Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed Wednesday that a Russian drone crashed and exploded in a cornfield near the town of Osiny in Lublin Province, eastern Poland.

The official described the incident as a Russian provocation at a time when peace talks are progressing regarding the war in the Ukrainian region.

The incident occurred during the night of August 19-20 . The drone detonated upon impact, leaving a crater and damaging vegetation up to 10 meters away, as well as shattering windows in nearby homes. Local authorities reported no casualties or injuries .

Burnt metal and plastic debris were found at the scene, leading experts to conclude that it was a military drone . According to initial analyses, the device was a Russian-made decoy drone with a Chinese engine, designed to self-destruct.

Kosiniak-Kamysz maintained that this episode adds to similar ones in which Russian drones have violated the airspace of countries like Lithuania and Romania , considering them deliberate acts of harassment toward NATO members. "This is a clear provocation from Russia ," he declared.

For his part, General Dariusz Malinowski explained that the drone was not detected by radar because it was flying at a very low altitude, which would have allowed it to enter without being intercepted.

The Lublin Regional Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident, while the Polish military continues to inspect the area.

The Polish government has assured that it is in contact with its NATO allies and will strengthen surveillance of its airspace. This development comes in a delicate context, as international peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine are underway.