WARSAW, POLAND — Poland is considering sending another batch of missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, with a final decision expected in the coming days, Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said in an interview with RMF FM.
She said Poland’s national security remains the main consideration, but the recent Russian missile incident in Polish airspace has influenced the assessment. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz is currently leaning toward approving another transfer.
“Despite all the political fuss there was earlier about whether we were right to hand over the missiles, today he leans toward sending more, because he would rather see a missile like that shot down over Ukrainian territory than have it fly into ours,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said.
Poland is also discussing the issue with NATO and the United States.
Previous Patriot Missile Transfer
Poland confirmed in July that it had transferred five PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems to Ukraine several months earlier. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the transfer was made at the request of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, following consultations among countries operating Patriot systems.
Polish officials said the transfer was marginal and did not affect Poland’s air defense capabilities. Warsaw also received assurances that significantly more missiles and systems could be provided within 24 hours if Poland itself faced a threat.
Russian Kh-101 Incident
The new transfer discussion follows the July 29-30 Russian attack on Ukraine, when a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile entered Polish airspace and crashed near Tarnawa-Kolonia in the Lublin Voivodeship, about 90-95 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The missile crashed in an uninhabited area, leaving a crater about 10 meters wide. There were no casualties or significant damage to buildings.
Polish forces detected the object at about 3:40 a.m. and scrambled an F-16 to identify and intercept it. The object later disappeared from radar, while a Mi-24 helicopter located the crash site.
Poland tracked multiple aerial targets during the attack. One came within about five kilometers of the Polish border before turning back. Investigators later confirmed that the missile was a Russian Kh-101 manufactured in the second quarter of 2026 at a facility in the Moscow region. Poland subsequently summoned the Russian ambassador and delivered a protest note.
Earlier Russian Drone Incursion
The incident followed a September 2025 violation in which between 19 and 23 Russian drones entered Polish airspace during a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Polish and NATO aircraft, including Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s, responded, and some drones were shot down.
Poland temporarily closed airspace around several airports, including Warsaw’s main international airports, and invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty for consultations among allies.
Poland currently operates two Patriot batteries and is awaiting additional systems. Warsaw has also provided substantial military assistance to Ukraine since 2022.
No final decision on the new Patriot missile transfer has been announced, but Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said the decision is expected within days.
——— End of Article ———
