Przewodów missile blast: what was known by 17 November 2022
A look back at the explosion in eastern Poland that killed two people and the early findings on its cause.
What was understood about the missile explosion in Poland by 17 November 2022? Two days earlier, on 15 November 2022, a missile strike killed two people in the village of Przewodów in eastern Poland, near the border with Ukraine.
As reported at the time, U.S. officials had told the Associated Press that preliminary findings suggested the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian missile. The President of the United States, Joe Biden, said the blast was caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile.
The incident came during Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. It was the first time a foreign missile had hit NATO territory during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine initially accused Russia of striking Poland, while the United States said the missile was likely a Ukrainian air defence round.
Later confirmation
The American assessment was later confirmed. In September 2023, the Polish Prosecutor's Office stated that the explosion was caused by an out-of-control Ukrainian S-300 air defence missile.
