Germany to recall Patriot air defense systems from area of Poland near Ukrainian border
Germany intends to end the deployment of three Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems in Poland, which were located 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, the German Ministry of Defense reported on Nov. 8, according to Sky News.
Since the beginning of the year, about 300 German soldiers have been deployed in the Polish town of Zamosc with Patriot systems to defend the southern town and the most important railroad connection to Ukraine.
Read also: U.S. may offer Poland Iron Dome in exchange for Patriot Systems for Ukraine – Politico
The reason for the deployment of this grouping was a missile that hit the Polish village of Przewodów in November 2022, which raised fears that the war would spread to the border.
In August, the German Defense Ministry said that the deployment was unlikely to last until the end of this year, as in 2024 the Patriot will either be needed for use in NATO's rapid response force or will have to undergo maintenance.
On Nov. 15, when Russia launched its most massive missile strike against Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion, a missile landed on a farm in the village of Przewodów in Lublin Voivodeship, killing two people. Poland's Foreign Ministry later said the missile was "of Russian origin." Przewodów is located about five kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
Read also: Germany transfers two Patriot launchers to Ukraine
The Associated Press, citing three American officials, wrote that a Ukrainian air defense missile could have fallen in Poland while Ukraine was repelling a massive attack by the Russian Armed Forces. On that day, more than 90 Russian missiles were fired at Ukraine's critical infrastructure.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said that there were no signs of a deliberate attack in the incident with the missile falling on the country's territory, and confirmed that it could have belonged to Ukrainian air defense.
On Nov. 16, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, according to the Ukrainian military, the missile that fell in Poland was not Ukrainian. On Nov. 17, Ukrainian experts were allowed to visit the site of the missile crash.
Read also: Poland confirms missile landed in Przewodów in November 2022 was Ukrainian
The international community placed all responsibility for the incident on Russia.
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