A missile described by Polish authorities as Russian entered Polish airspace and exploded near Tarnawa-Kolonia in eastern Poland on Thursday morning, according to a report published July 31. NATO deployed fighter aircraft and other air-defense assets after the incident, which occurred amid Russia's overnight ballistic missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. The explosion created a large crater, but authorities reported no casualties or significant damage.

Fox News, cited by the report, said the missile was part of Russia's overnight strikes on Ukraine, where at least eight civilians, including children, were killed and more than 50 injured. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in an X post that a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile had violated NATO airspace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the site and said all available evidence indicated it was a Russian missile.

A NATO spokesperson said F-16s, aerial refueling aircraft and AWACS planes were deployed by Poland and other NATO members after the missile was detected. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Poland and NATO had fully activated air and ground defenses, calling the incident another reckless Russian action and a dangerous consequence of the war against Ukraine.