No indication that Russia preparing military action against NATO: Stoltenberg

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) – The NATO chief said Wednesday there is no indication that Tuesday's explosion in Poland resulted from a deliberate attack on alliance territory, or that there are preparations for any such attack.

"(The) missile strike in Poland (was) likely caused by Ukrainian air defense," said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels after an urgent NATO meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels over the explosion in rural eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. Two people died in the explosion.

Stoltenberg’s assessment that the strike was likely Ukrainian misfire is in line with initial public statements by US and Russian leaders.

There is also no indication that Russia is planning offensive military action against any NATO country, underlined Stoltenberg, adding that an investigation of the incident is ongoing.

But he also said Russia bears "ultimate responsibility" as Tuesday's deadly explosion in Poland is a direct result of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which Moscow launched in late February.

Saying that the NATO allies reacted to the incident in a responsible way, Stoltenberg added that managing such incidents is about being calm and preventing any unnecessary escalation.

The suspected missile landed in the village of Przewodow, eastern Poland, located near the border with Ukraine.

The explosion occurred 500-600 meters (1,312-1,640 feet) from a primary school. The area near the explosion site has been cordoned off.