2024-08-22 14:35 update: 2024-08-23, 15:12
Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
An object that fell from the sky in north-eastern Poland on Wednesday was a likely a civilian weather balloon, Poland's defence minister has said.
Object that fell in Poland was likely a weather balloon, minister says
An object that fell from the sky in north-eastern Poland on Wednesday was likely a civilian weather balloon, Poland's defence minister has said.
Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed to the private broadcaster Radio Zet on Thursday morning that the object which fell near the northeastern city of Olsztyn on Wednesday evening was most probably a weather balloon.
"Of course, in situations like this, it is imperative that state agencies take appropriate measures, conduct an inspection, and provide us with a comprehensive report," he said.
The defence minister also remarked that there were no military installations near the area where the balloon fell, adding that "this is why the police are dealing with this matter and not the army."
When asked whether the balloon could have been Russian, Kosiniak-Kamysz responded by saying, "We need to investigate and establish everything." "Such situations arise due to powerful wind gusts, and there are tens, if not hundreds, of weather balloons flying in the skies every day within our country and those nearby," he continued.
Local media had reported that, according to witnesses, the object which fell on Wednesday was "a capsule with inscriptions in Russian is attached to the object."
However, Lt. Col. Jacek Goryszewski, a spokesperson for the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, told the Interia website on Thursday: "We assure you that it was most likely a weather balloon." He added that the police had addressed the matter appropriately and that there were no Polish troops at the site.
On Thursday morning, Olsztyn police informed PAP that they had been safeguarding, throughout the night, an item discovered by foresters.
As reported, the Internal Security Agency (ABW), and Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) had also been informed about the case.
On Thursday morning, the police had already removed the object from the location where it had been found.where it had been found.(PAP)
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