2022 missile explosion in Poland — 15 November 2022 incident during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
The first foreign missile to strike NATO territory during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, killing two people and briefly raising fears of NATO Article 5 invocation.
Key Facts
- Date
- 15 November 2022
- Deaths
- 2 people
- Missile type
- Ukrainian S-300 air-defence missile
- Location
- Przewodów, near Ukraine–Poland border
- Confirmed by
- Polish Prosecutor's Office, September 2023
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Russia launched large-scale strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on 15 November 2022, prompting Ukrainian air-defence forces to fire S-300 missiles to intercept incoming Russian missiles. One Ukrainian S-300 missile became uncontrolled during the engagement.
An out-of-control Ukrainian S-300 air-defence missile crossed into Polish territory and struck the village of Przewodów, killing two people. It was the first incident of a foreign missile hitting NATO territory since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The incident triggered emergency NATO consultations and initial accusations against Russia by Ukraine. After investigation, Poland and the United States concluded the missile was Ukrainian in origin, defusing escalation fears. The Polish Prosecutor's Office formally confirmed this finding in September 2023.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent