- Nato allies met in Brussels to discuss their reactions after a missile fell, on Tuesday, on the Polish village of Przewodów, near the Ukrainian border, killing two people. The incident is the first time that the territory of a Nato country has been struck during the near-nine-month Ukraine war.
- Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, has said there is no evidence to suggest the missile strike on Przewodów was an intentional attack or was launched by Russia. Duda said there were “many indications” that the missile was fired as part of Ukraine’s air defences and “unfortunately fell on Polish territory”. Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, told the Polish parliament that it was possible the incident was the result of a provocation from the Russian side.
- Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, confirmed that initial analysis suggested the incident was “likely caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile fired to defend Ukrainian territory” against Russian cruise missile attacks. “Let me be clear: this is not Ukraine’s fault,” he added. “Russia bears the ultimate responsibility as it continues its illegal war against Ukraine.”
- The US president, Joe Biden, also said the missile was unlikely to have been fired from Russia due to its trajectory. Biden’s defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said the US had not seen anything that contradicted Poland’s preliminary assessment that Tuesday evening’s missile was the result of a Ukrainian air defence missile.
- Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has said he is convinced that the missile was not Ukrainian. Speaking to reporters, Zelenskiy said he had received reports from the command of Ukraine’s armed forces and air force and “cannot but trust them”.
- Ukraine is requesting “immediate access” to the site of the explosion in eastern Poland, a senior Ukrainian defence official said. Oleksiy Danilov said Ukraine wanted a “joint study” of Tuesday’s incident with its partners. Duda said both Poland and the US would have to agree before Ukraine could take part in the investigation.
- The Russian defence ministry has claimed that, on Tuesday, it had not targeted anywhere within 35km (22 miles) of the Ukraine-Poland border. In a statement reported by Tass, the ministry said statements about “Russian missiles” falling in Przewodów were “a deliberate provocation with the aim of escalating the situation”. The Russian ministry claimed to have identified the wreckage as a Ukrainian S-300 from photographs.
- The UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has blamed Vladimir Putin’s “cruel and unrelenting” war for destabilising the world economy, while calling for Nato allies to wait for the results of “a full investigation into the circumstances behind missiles falling in Poland yesterday”. The British PM and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, spoke with Zelenskiy and said in a readout afterwards that “whatever the outcome of that investigation [into the explosion in Poland], Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is squarely to blame for the ongoing violence”.
- Early History:
Russia and Ukraine share a complex history that dates back to the medieval period. Kyivan Rus, a federation of Slavic tribes, emerged in the 9th century, with its capital in Kyiv (now the capital of Ukraine). This state played a pivotal role in the region’s early history and culture. - Mongol Invasion:
In the 13th century, both Russia and Ukraine fell under Mongol rule after the devastating invasion led by Batu Khan. This era, known as the Mongol Yoke, significantly influenced the development of both nations. - The Cossacks:
By the 17th century, the Cossacks, a semi-military group, played a crucial role in the region’s history. They established the Zaporozhian Sich, an autonomous Cossack state on the territory of modern-day Ukraine, challenging both Russian and Polish dominance. - Russian Imperial Expansion:
In the late 17th and 18th centuries, the Russian Empire expanded its influence over Ukraine. The Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654 saw parts of Ukraine aligning with Russia, but subsequent conflicts with Poland and the Ottoman Empire shaped the region’s destiny. - Catherine the Great:
Under Catherine the Great, the Russian Empire annexed significant parts of Ukraine in the late 18th century. This period marked a shift in demographics and political dynamics in the region. - 19th-century Nationalism:
The 19th century saw the rise of nationalism in both Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian intellectuals sought to preserve their cultural identity, while Russian authorities aimed to assimilate Ukraine into the broader Russian identity. - Soviet Era:
The 20th century brought significant turbulence, with Ukraine experiencing the turmoil of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent formation of the Soviet Union. Ukraine endured a devastating famine in the 1930s, known as the Holodomor, which many attribute to Soviet policies. - World War II:
During World War II, Ukraine became a battleground, suffering immense human and material losses. The war’s aftermath solidified the Soviet grip on the region, as Ukraine became one of the republics within the USSR. - Post-Soviet Independence:
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the emergence of an independent Ukraine. The newfound sovereignty, however, did not immediately resolve issues with Russia, leading to ongoing tensions over political, economic, and cultural matters. - Contemporary Tensions:
In recent years, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated, particularly with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. The conflict has geopolitical implications and has strained relations between the two nations, shaping the contemporary history of Russia and Ukraine.
