A house in eastern Poland that was damaged during last week’s Russian drone incursions was likely struck by a missile fired from a Polish fighter jet, a senior government minister has acknowledged.
The incident took place in the village of Wyryki, in the Lublin region, around 20km from the borders with Ukraine and Belarus. Authorities initially reported that the property, owned by a retired couple, had been hit as a result of the Russian drone attacks. Both residents escaped unharmed.
However, new details published by Polish daily Rzeczpospolita suggested the damage may have been caused by a missile fired from a Polish F-16 attempting to intercept a drone. According to security service sources cited by the newspaper, the missile’s guidance system malfunctioned, causing it to veer off course. While it failed to detonate thanks to a protective fuse mechanism, it struck the house, leaving visible damage.
On Wednesday, Poland’s Minister and Coordinator for Special Services, Tomasz Siemoniak, confirmed the likelihood of that scenario. “Everything indicates that it was a missile fired by our plane, defending Poland, defending the fatherland, defending our citizens,” he told broadcaster TVN24.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk had earlier sought to place responsibility on Moscow, writing on social platform X that “the entire responsibility for the damage to the house in Wyryki falls on the authors of the drone provocation, i.e. Russia.” He added that full details would be shared once investigations were concluded.
State to fund rebuilding
Poland’s Ministry of Defence announced that the state will cover the cost of rebuilding the house. Reconstruction will be carried out by Polish soldiers, ensuring the couple is not left to face the consequences of the accident.
The incident came during a major incursion on 10 September, when 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Authorities have since recovered debris from 17 of them, calling the violation a deliberate act by Moscow. Siemoniak stressed that investigations remain ongoing. “Drone parts are currently being examined by our specialists, very carefully, very thoroughly,” he said.
Heightened security after incursions
The mishap has raised concerns about the risks of using high-explosive missiles against drones flying at low altitude near populated areas. Analysts warn that interception attempts could inadvertently endanger civilians.
Polish security services remain on alert following the September incident. On Monday evening, authorities “neutralised” a drone that appeared above government buildings in central Warsaw, where flights are prohibited. Two men — a Belarusian and a Ukrainian national — were arrested in connection with the flight. The Internal Security Agency later determined they were not acting on behalf of any foreign power.
The events underline the growing complexity of Poland’s defense against escalating cross-border threats from Russia, as Warsaw seeks to balance public safety with its determination to secure its skies.
