Poland Nearly Opened Fire on Ukrainian MiG-29 During Russian Missile Attack
During a massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine on July 30, a tense aerial incident reportedly occurred near the Polish-Ukrainian border.
A Ukrainian MiG-29 was allegedly pursuing a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that had entered Polish airspace. Polish forces, including an F-16 fighter jet, were also monitoring the situation.
According to Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, citing Operational Commander General Ireneusz Nowak, the Ukrainian aircraft was not immediately identified, creating a potential risk of friendly fire.
The general reportedly said that if the Ukrainian pilot had continued flying toward Poland and crossed the border—an event that could have occurred within approximately 30 seconds—Polish forces would have faced a decision over whether to open fire.
The MiG-29 ultimately did not enter Polish airspace, and no shots were fired. Following the incident, Ukraine reportedly began providing Polish authorities with more information about the movements of its military aircraft operating near the border.
The episode highlights the growing risks of misidentification and friendly-fire incidents in airspace near Ukraine and NATO territory.