Rajmund Andrzejczak is the Chief of the Common Employees for Poland. (Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto through Getty Pictures)
HALIFAX — No matter the results of the investigation right into a projectile that exploded in Poland and killed two civilians final week, Poland’s high normal is adamant that Ukraine shouldn’t change its ways and procedures.
As an alternative, Russia should be made to reply for its indiscriminate barrage of missile assaults so near the border of a NATO member — a “dangerous recreation” that Moscow is conscious might ramp up tensions, Gen. Rajmund Andrzejczak, chief of workers of the Polish armed forces, stated in an unique interview with Breaking Protection.
“It’s not about Ukraine or Ukrainian air protection programs, it’s about who initiated this example [and] why Russia is escalating and firing and focusing on infrastructure so near the Polish border,” he stated on the sidelines of the Halifax Worldwide Safety Discussion board.
“I don’t anticipate any change in Ukrainian efficiency as a result of they’re preventing for his or her nation. They’re defending all their cities and cities. They’re preventing for all residents. I can’t think about myself telling Ukrainians, ‘Change your place as a result of it’s not enough for me.’”
An investigation into the incident could possibly be full, “in a matter of days,” based on Andrzejczak.
Beforehand, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated the preliminary outcomes of the investigation into the Nov. 15 incident pointed to a stray Ukrainian missile from a Russian-made S-300 air protection system that by accident entered Polish airspace. Duda has characterised the occasion as a “shared tragedy” that was “completely not a deliberate occasion.”
NATO Secretary Common Jens Stoltenberg and US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin have voiced assist for the Polish evaluation, whereas on the identical time underscoring Russia’s final culpability as a result of its invasion of Ukraine and continued cruise missile assaults.
In the meantime, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained that Ukraine was not chargeable for firing the errant missile.
In the end, Andrzejczak stated that the query of attribution isn’t as essential as understanding how the scenario on the battlefield laid the groundwork for the incident — a scenario the place Russia is “escalating the scenario nearer and nearer to the Polish border.” On the day of the mishap, Russia was firing a whole lot of missiles at a time, deliberately taking out vital infrastructure and infrequently dealing injury to civilian infrastructure as properly.
“It seems like Russia isn’t capable of detect [and effectively target] Ukrainian forces. And now they’re killing harmless individuals as a result of it’s the one approach they’ll obtain their aims, which is totally far-off from the requirements of Western civilization,” he stated.
To attempt to stop Ukrainian lack of life, the Ukrainian navy responded by utilizing no matter it has available — whether or not US or European-made air protection programs, or older Soviet-era ones. When making an attempt to intercept an enemy missile, it’s typical to shoot two to 3 missiles for each enemy one within the hopes of with the ability to take down as many as potential, Andrzejczak stated.
“If you happen to’re sitting able and missiles are coming to your city, and your mother and your sister and youngsters are nonetheless over there, there’s not very a lot concern. You’re firing what you have got,” he stated.
In response to the incident, Poland “elevated readiness” of sure navy items, rising Air Drive patrols and shifting some air protection tools and intelligence belongings to attempt to strengthen the Polish navy’s potential to defend towards stray missiles invading its airspace.
Poland additionally accepted a proposal from Germany to ship further Patriot air protection programs, to be positioned close to the border with Ukraine. The 2 international locations are additionally figuring out plans to deploy German Eurofighter Typhoons to reinforce the Polish air power.
Nevertheless, even with the added air protection functionality, there’s danger of an identical mishap occurring if Russia continues raining missiles on Ukrainian cities close to Poland, Andrzejczak stated. “There’s no single system [that gives] 100% effectiveness.”
