Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1517379
To diligently analyze the events that unfolded last year, one should recall the context in which they were placed. The first event that had tragic results so far, was the one that happened on November 15th, 2022. Back then, an initially unidentified missile fell on a grain drying facility infrastructure - in Przewodów, right next to the Ukrainian border. Two persons died in an explosion. This event entailed a lot of emotions, and the media paid a lot of attention to it. Which is understandable, due to the loss of two Polish lives. It was also unclear, at first, whether the missile was launched by the Russians, or by the Ukrainian air defenses. Ultimately, the latter scenario turned out to be true - it was a 5V55 missile launched by an S300 SAM system belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine - it was launched to intercept a Russian missile, but missed the target and a self-destruct procedure was initiated. Another incident had consequences that were much more dire - and public opinion found out about it in April 2023, when a random person, horseriding, encountered the wreckage of a flying object. A few days later, the authorities at the time admitted that the remains belonged to a Russian missile that penetrated the Polish airspace on December 16th, 2022. It was tracked by radars, but the military was unable to follow its complete route. It was also impossible to find it immedi- ately after impact. The media-related and political ramifica- tions had a different profile in this case. The public concern and anger, related to the lack of information on the incident was one thing. Had it not been for the fact that the wreckage was discovered accidentally, the missile would still be rusting in the forest. Another matter pertained to the later dispute, in www.fragoutmag.com