Russia accused of missile attack on Poland a long way from western Ukraine fighting

A screenshot from a video purporting to be from the missile impact site

Tensions between European nations, NATO allies and Russia have escalated dramatically after what was initially reported as 'explosions' in the eastern Polish village of Przewodow on Tuesday night local time.

Ukraine President Volodomir Zelenskiy said Russian missiles had hit Poland, saying firing missiles at NATO territory was an attack on collective security and a significant escalation. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader had linked the liberation of Kherson to a diplomatic victory in New York with the United Nations giving the "green light to the creation of a compensation mechanism for Russian crimes in Ukraine".

Polish premier Mateusz Morawiecki called an urgent meeting of the government committee for national security and defence affairs, according to spokesman Piotr Müller on Twitter at 4:30am Australian time (AEDT).

Polish radio ZET reported two 'stray' missiles hit Przewodow killing two people without providing any details.

The Russian defence ministry denied any involvement in the incident and claimed the wreckage published by 'Polish mass media' have no relation to 'Russian firepower':

“No strikes on targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border were made by Russian means of destruction ... (calling reports a) “deliberate provocation(s) aimed at escalating the situation.”

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda tweeted that every inch of NATO territory must be defended:

Latvian Deputy Prime Minister Artis Pabriks initially tweeted outrage at the incident:

"My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. Criminal Russian regime fired missiles which target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime."

but later clarified:

"Deliberately or unknowingly caused - such a situation is unacceptable. Tonight @ltvzinas I emphasized that one of the possibilities would be @NATO an agreement between the member states and Poland on the provision of additional anti-aircraft defense, including in part of the territory of Ukraine." (Google translation)

Estonia's ministry of foreign affairs tweeted their preparedness to 'defend every inch of NATO territory':

Belgium's Prime Minister strongly condemned the incident and tweeted his support for Poland and the NATO 'family':

The incident occurred at the western border of Ukraine and Poland's eastern border, a long way from where fighting is occurring in eastern Ukraine.

In Washington DC, Pentagon officials would not confirm if Russian missiles had landed in Polish territory.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he had a 'very frank and open discussion' with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the Saturday deadline on the Black Sea grain export deal. The two met on the sideline of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia this week.