Lithuanian FM urges NATO to strengthen response after Russian missile lands in Poland

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has urged NATO to deliver a firmer response following the discovery of a Russian missile in eastern Poland. Speaking on Monday, he argued that the alliance should reinforce its military capabilities and adopt a more decisive political position in the wake of the incident.

Budrys said NATO’s previous efforts to enhance its presence in the region had produced tangible results. He pointed to the Eastern Sentinel and Baltic Sentry operations, which he said had helped discourage further incidents. According to the minister, threats to Poland and damage to Baltic Sea infrastructure subsided during those missions. He cautioned, however, that not every earlier episode had necessarily been deliberate. Still, he insisted that the current situation merited the same kind of robust response.

The incident in question came to light when Polish authorities reported a crater approximately ten metres wide in the Lublin region. It was caused by an explosion during a recent wave of Russian missile strikes targeting Ukraine. Poland’s Defence Minister identified the projectile as a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, manufactured near Moscow. A spokesperson for the Lublin prosecutor’s office stated that a Ukrainian expert had confirmed both the missile’s origin and model. Poland’s Foreign Ministry noted that the Kh-101 is used exclusively by Russia’s strategic aviation.

NATO has confirmed that the object was a Russian missile, condemned the event, and assured Warsaw of its close contact and readiness to take all necessary measures to protect allied territory. Budrys stressed that the alliance must not become accustomed to missiles entering its airspace. He said that if there is a shortfall in capabilities, those capabilities must be increased. He also expressed the view that NATO’s political response could have been stronger.

The missile landed near the village of Tarnawa Kolonia, roughly 80 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. It occurred during an overnight assault in which Russia launched 74 missiles and 284 drones at Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Russian projectiles have also struck other Eastern European countries, particularly Romania and Moldova.