Poland Mulls Shooting Down Russian Missiles Over Ukraine

Poland is weighing the possibility of downing Russian missiles over Ukraine using its air defense systems.

"This issue is being considered from a legal and technical point of view, but there are no decisions in this matter," Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski told Ukrainian news outlet Ukrinform on Wednesday.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian and Polish Foreign Ministries and NATO for additional comment.

The Context

The news comes amid rising tensions between Russia and NATO member Poland over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Warsaw has been forced to scramble its fighter jets to protect its airspace during large-scale Russian missile strikes on Ukraine. Poland has said that Russian missiles fired at western Ukraine entered its airspace on multiple occasions. Russia has said incursions were accidental.

What We Know

Wronski said Ukraine approached Poland to suggest using Polish air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory.

Discussions on the matter began in Poland after a Russian missile fired at Ukraine entered its airspace in March. The Russian missile, which was traveling around 500 miles per hour at 1,200 feet altitude, entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds near the town of Oserdow.

Officials are discussing the legal implications of downing Russian missiles over Ukraine, Wronski told Ukrinform.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman ruled out the possibility of Poland sending Ukraine its air defense systems.

"There is no discussion of this in Poland at all. There is no possibility of the Polish air defense system being outside the country's borders," Wronski said.

Previously, Poland's deputy foreign minister said his country was considering whether to shoot down any Russian missiles that go close to its borders.

"NATO is analyzing different concepts, including that such missiles should be shot down when they are very close to the NATO border," Andrzej Szejna told Polish radio station RMF FM in March. "But this should happen with the consent of the Ukrainian side and taking into account international consequences."

Update 5/23/24, 7:38 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

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