Poland to ask NATO to trigger article 4 after ’Russian-made’ missile kills two Poles
Poland is set to request NATO to trigger Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty after two Poles died when a “Russian-made” missile struck a grain silo in eastern Poland.
The missile landed near the village of Przewodow, which lies about 10 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, on Tuesday afternoon, and came on a day in which Russia launched dozens of strikes on targets across Ukraine.
Speaking on Wednesday morning President Duda said it was “highly probable” that Poland’s ambassador will ask the alliance to invoke Article 4, which calls for consultations if the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of a member is threatened.
It was the first time that residents of a NATO country had died because of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking on Wednesday morning President Andrzej Duda said it was “highly probable” that Poland’s ambassador will ask the alliance to invoke Article 4, which calls for consultations if the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of a member is threatened.
Photos posted on social media show trucks and tractors lying in ruin after apparently hit by the blasts.
President Duda added that it “was most likely a Russian-made missile but this is still under investigation at the moment.”
Reacting to the news President Joe Biden said on Twitter: "I spoke with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to express my deep condolences for the loss of life in Eastern Poland and offer our full support for Poland's investigation of the explosion.
Other photos show a chunk of metal lying in the dirt following the Russian missiles landing in the village.
"We will remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as it proceeds.”
President Duda also spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and other leaders including Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the government has raised the alert level for the police, border guard, fire service and security services as a result of the incident.
The government also raised the alert level for the police, border guard, fire service and security services as a result of the incident, Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister, said.
"Together with the minister of interior and administration, we have raised the alert level for all services: police, border guard, state fire service and all other services, including security services," Morawiecki said in the early hours on Wednesday after the last in a series of top level meetings and consultations that went on for hours.
The Polish authorities have launched an investigation into where the missile came from and who fired it.
