Poland confirmed the falling of Kh-101 missile, the target was chased by a Ukrainian pilot (Updated)

Polish specialists have officially determined that a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile fell in the Lublin Voivodeship during Russia's massive attack on Ukraine. Previously, the country's authorities had only called this type of missile the most likely.

The completion of the munition's identification was announced by Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defense, Cezary Tomczyk.

According to him, the missile was being chased by a Ukrainian pilot. About 20 seconds before reaching the Polish border, he stopped the pursuit because he did not have permission to enter the neighboring state's airspace.

Tomczyk explained that the appearance of a Ukrainian combat aircraft over Poland without prior agreement could have been mistaken as a threat by Polish and allied forces.

As the Russian missile approached Poland, the country's military and NATO activated air defense means and scrambled fighter jets. A Polish F-16 tracked the object and recorded its fall.

The missile fell on a field near the village of Tarnava-Koloniya. The explosion created a crater with a diameter of about 10 meters. The nearest residential buildings are located approximately two kilometers from the impact site. People were not harmed, and no building damage was recorded.

Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk previously stated that the found debris points to a Russian Kh-101 missile, but urged to wait for the final conclusions of experts.

According to Tusk, the Polish military was ready to shoot down the missile if it had continued its flight toward populated areas. At the same time, Polish authorities have no indication that Russia deliberately targeted Polish territory.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha called the incident a violation of NATO airspace. He stressed that strengthening Ukraine's air defense directly affects the security of Poland and other European countries.

The missile fell in Poland during a massive Russian strike on Ukraine involving dozens of missiles and hundreds of attack drones.

Based on materials: RMF24, Business Insider, The Guardian