The aftermath of debris from what is believed to be an F-16 missile crashing into a house in the village of Wyryki-Wola, Poland, during a Russian intrusion into the country's airspace overnight on Sept. 9-10. Photo: polsatnews.pl
On Sept. 9, at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace en masse, leaving a stream of debris across the country after being shot down or crashing on their own. In the immediate aftermath of the incursion, it was reported that a house in the village of Wyryki-Wola, in eastern Poland’s Lublin Voivodeship, had suffered roof and ceiling damage after being struck by one of the Russian UAVs. However, the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, citing sources in the country’s security services, now reports that the house was struck not by a drone, but by an AIM-120 missile fired from a Polish F-16.
“It was an AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile from our F-16, which experienced a guidance system malfunction during flight and failed to fire. Fortunately, it didn't arm or explode because the fuse's safety devices were activated,” one source told the newspaper, adding that the missile had been launched at a Russian drone as part of the pilot’s attempts to down it.
Retired Lt. Col. Maciej Korowaj, a former intelligence officer and military analyst, told the newspaper that photos of the damage indicate the house was damaged by kinetic impact rather than by an explosion. “There was no explosion, no detonation, as can be seen in the photos of the destroyed house,” he said.
Polish officials declined to confirm the Rzeczpospolita report. Lublin prosecutors and Lublin governor Krzysztof Komorski said they would not comment until the results of an official investigation are available.
Following the publication of the report, Poland’s National Security Bureau demanded an explanation from the government. Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded to the request, but he did not reveal what had struck the home, instead saying Russia bore full responsibility for the damage:
“The entire responsibility for the damage to the house in Wyryki rests with the perpetrators of the drone provocation, i.e., Russia. The relevant services will inform the public, the government, and the president about the full circumstances of the incident after the investigation is completed. Hands off Polish soldiers,” he wrote on X.
Pensioner Tomasz Weselowski, the owner of the home, told Reuters he was watching television coverage of the raid when an aircraft flew overhead, followed by a loud crash. Neither he nor his wife Alicja were injured.
Wyryki-Wola is located about 20 kilometers, or 12 miles, from the border with Ukraine, which was subject to yet another Russian air assault at the time of the incursion into Poland. Ukraine was able to intercept 386 of the 415 strike and decoy drones launched by Russia, and 27 of the 43 missiles fired on the night of Sept. 9, according to a report by Ukraine's Air Force.
Whole drones or fragments were found in various locations in eastern Poland following the incursion. Most of the 17 drones recovered were “decoys” that caused no damage, according to Rzeczpospolita. PM Tusk said 19 airspace violations were recorded overnight, while Rzeczpospolita had originally reported that up to 23 Russian drones were detected.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the drones could carry ammunition but that they were unarmed when they entered Polish airspace. He added the incursion was a Kremlin attempt to probe NATO’s response through gradual escalations. True to form, on Sept. 13 Romania became the second alliance member in days to report an incursion.
“Interestingly, they were all duds, which suggests to me that Russia tried to test us without starting a war,” Sikorski told The Guardian in Kyiv on Monday. Romania, for its part, has said Russian drones violate the country’s airspace “every week.”
Poland has closed its airspace along the country’s borders with Belarus and Ukraine for three months, while NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank following the incursion into Poland. Details about Eastern Sentry are sparse, but the UK Government has confirmed that RAF Typhoon jets will fly air defense missions over Poland as part of the operation.
Other allies, including Denmark, Germany and France, are already involved. Denmark will send two F-16 fighter jets and a warship, its Defense Ministry said. France has pledged three Rafales, while Germany will contribute four Eurofighters. Further announcements are anticipated as NATO refines the mission’s command and control structure.
