Tuesday, at least two Russian cruise missiles missed the country of Ukraine and landed in Eastern Poland. Two Polish citizens were killed.

The missiles were part of an overnight blitz of about 100 sea- and air-launched cruise missiles targeting Ukraine’s electric generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.

BREAKING:

2 Russian stray missiles have just hit a farm in Przewodów on the Polish side of the Polish-Ukrainian border, killing 2 Poles. pic.twitter.com/BS7txi9ZKs

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) November 15, 2022

🇵🇱 The first video from the site of the explosion in the Polish village of Przewodow, Lublin Voivodeship. pic.twitter.com/dyUwXwfoKR

— АЗОВ South (@AzovMolozensky) November 15, 2022

All scene photos/videos as folks try to discern what impacted in Przewodów, Poland, and how many. pic.twitter.com/obpXB1AKzT

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) November 15, 2022

Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has convened an emergency meeting of the Polish government to discuss the attack. Consultations with NATO will probably follow.

While the US Defense Department has not affixed official blame for the incident. Background briefings from intelligence officials have placed the blame on Russia.

BREAKING: A senior U.S. intelligence official says Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, killing two people.

A Polish government spokesman did not immediately confirm the information, but said leaders were meeting on "crisis situation." https://t.co/W1hhjwa6ez

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 15, 2022

Some pro-Russia accounts claim this is a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile gone astray. The story is wildly improbable as Western surface-to-air missiles have a self-destruct mechanism that prevents a live missile without target-lock from galivanting across large swaths of real estate. The impact location makes this explanation even more unlikely. Surface-to-air missiles fired from within Ukraine at incoming Russian missiles would have splashed in Ukraine.

Russia’s media personalities don’t seem to be denying the source, either. For example, here is the editor-in-chief of RT giving her opinion.

Head of RT Margarita Simonyan: "Now Poland has its own Belgorod region. What did you expect?" pic.twitter.com/JUyaFOKRdR

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) November 15, 2022

This refers to Ukrainian strikes on the Russian city of Belgorod.

(She seems to have since received the memo, and now her Telegram account blames the Brits.)

UPDATE

Russia has released an official statement.

Russia's official response about today's events in Poland: pic.twitter.com/aP8ugJlMAe

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) November 15, 2022

Contrary to some assertions, this incident will not create cause for NATO consultation under the mutual-defense provisions of Article 5 but under Article 4. So all those soiling themselves at the thought of a nuclear war over a stray missile can relax and regain control of their sphincters.

The Russian missile screw-up that ended up killing two Poles will result in NATO invoking article 4 not article 5 (see below). The consultation will probably result in more support for Ukraine, particularly air and anti-air power. Will give Poland some real influence. pic.twitter.com/n92JHvFqGv

— Phillips P. OBrien (@PhillipsPOBrien) November 15, 2022

This is not the first time this has happened. Two weeks ago, a Russian cruise missile missed Ukraine and hit Moldova. So long as Russia targets civilian infrastructure in Western Ukraine, this will happen. NATO and the EU need to take steps to let Russia know this is not acceptable behavior.