Polish investigative services are conducting their work on a rapeseed field in Lublin Voivodeship following the fall of a military aircraft object. Grzegorz Trusewicz, the district prosecutor in Lublin, stated at a press conference that the crater has a depth of over 5 meters, with debris scattered within a radius of 200 meters.
Local residents reported a powerful explosion. Police were the first to arrive at the scene and cordoned off the area. The crater's diameter is approximately 10 meters.
Currently, around 100 police officers and military personnel are working at the site, with four military prosecutors overseeing the operation. Fifty soldiers from the Territorial Defense Force have been involved in the search for evidence, combing through the unmown field.
According to the prosecutor, the fragments found bear "certain emblems and inscriptions," but detailed analysis is only possible after the debris is completely extracted from the crater. The exact number of fragments is difficult to determine at present due to dense vegetation.
The area is being mapped using drones to document all traces from the air. Specialized equipment is also being used to detect electronics and explosives. The prosecutor's office reports that it already has an idea of the probable flight path of the object, but is refraining from official confirmation.
Request for Ukrainian Experts' Participation
The Ukrainian side has submitted an official request allowing its specialists to examine the scene. The argument is that they have the most extensive practical experience in identifying similar military objects, accumulated during years of full-scale war.
"We received an official request from the Ukrainian side to assist in conducting this inspection, as these experts have the most experience in dealing with such types of incidents. The request is currently being considered, and it is possible that they will come to the scene and help — together with Polish services — to identify the object that entered Polish airspace," explained prosecutor Trusewicz.
Poland's Ministry of Justice is reviewing the request from a procedural perspective. According to Trusewicz, the purpose of involving Ukrainian specialists is to determine the nature of the object before the investigation is continued by specialized Polish laboratories.
The investigation is being conducted under Article 173 of Poland's Criminal Code in connection with aviation legislation — regarding causing an aviation disaster. The article's penalty provides for up to 10 years imprisonment.
The prosecutor noted that the services aim to complete fieldwork as quickly as possible due to hot weather, to avoid strain on officers. He also stated that the area is completely safe for local residents.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously stated that all signs point to a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, and Poland was ready to shoot it down. The results of debris examination will provide an answer as to whether this version is officially confirmed.
