Poland finds an object flying from Belarus in its airspace, probably an observation balloon | Wagon Radio 720

WARSAW, POLAND (AP) – The Polish Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that it had detected an object in Polish airspace flying from the direction of Belarus, likely an observation balloon.

The ministry tweeted that it lost radar contact with an object near the town of Lipin in central Poland, 143 kilometers (89) northwest of the capital Warsaw.

The ministry said a territorial defense force had been dispatched to search for the object.

The development, reported on Saturday, follows two other known incursions into Polish airspace since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Poland’s eastern border.

In November, a missile landed in eastern Poland, killing two Polish men. Western officials said they believed Ukrainian air defense missiles were accidentally launched as the Ukrainian Air Force tried to repel a large-scale Russian attack.

Polish military and political officials also face questions about another object that landed on Polish territory in December but was just spotted by a civilian riding a horse in the woods in April.

The issue calls into question the authorities’ handling of air defenses at a time when the war in Ukraine poses new risks.

President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki were first informed of the December airspace violation in late April.

The National Security Agency, the body that advises the president on security and defense matters, said on Friday that director Jacek Sieviera and Duda were informed of the object on April 26, saying the agency said it had a “Russian-made cruise missile. is possible,” he said. ”

Officials said no traces of explosives were found at the site where the flying object was found.

Defense Minister Marius Błaszczak said this week that the military operations commander was responsible for not properly informing political leaders about the object. Military leaders have refuted the allegations, claiming they did their duty properly.

Opposition parties are calling for Mr Vłaszcák’s dismissal over the issue.