Ukrainian ambassador explains why Poland should down Russian missiles over Ukraine

A decision to shoot down Russian missiles over the territory of Ukraine would not only strengthen the protection of Ukrainian skies, but also strengthen Poland’s own security, since shooting down missiles over its territory in peacetime would be a more difficult task.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zvarych spoke of this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"In a situation where Russian missiles cross into Poland’s airspace of Poland (and such cases, unfortunately, have already taken place), shooting them down over Poland under peacetime legislation would an extremely difficult procedure. In Ukraine, the airspace is closed to civil aviation, and those deadly missiles flying toward Poland that are visible to Polish radars are much easier to identify and shoot down even before they are likely to enter Poland’s airspace," Zvarych emphasized.

Exploring a possibility of shooting down Russian missiles and drones, heading toward Poland, in the Ukrainian airspace is laid down in the bilateral security agreement, the diplomat recalled.

Zvarych believes the deal inked by Kyiv and Warsaw is "one of the most ambitious agreements" among those signed by Ukraine in the security area as it contains a number of elements that are not found in other such agreements. In particular, this is about a possibility of shooting down Russian missiles and drones over the territory of Ukraine and the creation of the Ukrainian Legion on Poland’s soil. It also clearly states that any form of bilateral obligations or security assurances provided to Ukraine by its partners cannot be an alternative to full membership of NATO.

"Membership of the Alliance is thus recognized as the biggest guarantee of Ukraine's security," Zvarych stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukraine has already signed 25 security agreements.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian missiles have violated Poland’s airspace several times during massive missile attacks on Ukraine. The last time a Russian missile crossed into Poland’s airspace was on March 24. The missile was flying over Poland for 39 seconds. Ukraine has long been asking Poland to shoot down Russian missiles over the western part of Ukraine. Warsaw says the issue is being considered and a final decision is yet to be made.