Addressing the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Krzysztof Szczerski said Poland acted with "full restraint" after a suspected Russian-made missile fell inside its border a day earlier, killing two people and sparking fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Szczerski added that Poland immediately launched an "extensive multi-phase investigation" into the incident, which NATO and the United States said was probably caused by a stray missile fired by Ukrainian forces defending their country against Russian air strikes, broadcaster CNN reported.
"Poland is also conducting intensive consultations on the incident with its NATO allies and key partners," Szczerski said.
Two Polish citizens died when "a Russia-made missile" caused an explosion outside the southeastern Polish village of Przewodów, about 6 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, at around 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a statement by the Polish foreign ministry.
Szczerski told the UN Security Council that initial findings showed the incident was not a deliberate attack.
"But naturally, we need to wait for the final conclusion until the investigation is over," he said.
He warned the incident "teaches us how close we actually live to the potential escalation in the spillover of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine of far-reaching consequences that we all can perceive."
Szczerski also said: "We understand our responsibilities and that's why Poland is, and will remain, a regional stronghold of peace, security and stability."
He added: "It is clear that it is Russia which is to blame for menacing the world with the war of aggression and its spillover effects."
Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday that there was "no indication" that the missile, which killed two Polish citizens, was intended to hit Poland amid Russia's war in Ukraine.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told parliament in Warsaw on Wednesday that it could not be ruled out that the missile incident was the result of a "provocation" by Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that the missile was probably a stray fired by Ukraine's air defences and not a Russian strike, but added that Russia "bears ultimate responsibility" for the incident as it "continues its illegal war" against Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, CNN
