Inhale, Exhale, Pause, Consider: Perish The Thought

"[The projectile was] Russian-made [either a missile or a rocket most likely fired accidentally] by Ukrainian anti-aircraft defence [not Russia]."

"What happened was an isolated incident [an investigation is underway]."

"There is no indication that more will take place."

"Ukraine's defence was launching their missiles in various directions and it is highly probable that one of these missiles unfortunately fell on Polish territory."

"There is nothing, absolutely nothing, to suggest that it was an intentional attack on Poland."

Polish President Andrzej Duda

"[I have[ no doubts [about a report from top commanders] that it wasn't our missile or our missile strike."

"Let's say openly, if, God forbid, some remnant [of Ukraine air defences] killed a person, these people, then we need to apologize."

"But first there needs to be a probe, access -- we want to get the data you have."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

"[We reject Poland's and other countries' initial response. President Biden's] restrained, much more professional reaction] is more acceptable. [The U.S. had been] measured [and] professional [in its response.]"

"We have witnessed another hysterical, frenzied Russo-phobic reaction that was not based on any real data."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

 

"This is not Ukraine's fault."

"Russia bears ultimate responsibility as it continues its illegal war."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

Police run a check point outside the scene in Przewodow, Poland, where authorities in Warsaw say a Russian-made missile struck its territory, killing two civilians.

Omar Marques | Getty Images News | Getty Images

"He [Bogdan Wos, retired local worker] was my friend from school. He was a good man." 

"I was terrified when I heard about his death."

"The first thought that came to my mind was that we were finally attacked by the Russians."

Marian Praytula, Przewodow village, Poland

"Since the start of the war we keep analyzing the danger. It has quietened down recently, but here we are today."

"It's terrifying."

Ewa Byra, school headmistress

"I heard an explosion and ran out of the house to see what had happened."

"I came back home scared and then my friend said that Jozefa's husband had died. I started crying."

Renata, school janitor

The rocket of unknown origin and wild speculation landed in Przewodow 100 metres from the primary school, close to a block of apartment flats. Of the 71 pupils of the school more than half witnessed the explosion. The students remained locked in their homes following the explosion on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the villagers followed suit, the first time in memory that no one in the village arrived at the church to observe Mass. 

The following day classes at the school were cancelled. Instead a psychologist was asked to help traumatized pupils and residents. Of the two men killed who were working at a grain facility, Bogdan Wos's widow, Jozefa worked as a cleaner at the school. In her grief she was placed in the care of a medical specialist. 

The residents of he farming village of Przewodow were convinced the war in Ukraine had finally spilled across the border and they were being engulfed in the violence. And nor was it that village alone that felt of a certainty they were being drawn into the violent confrontation between Ukraine and Russia. With only 5 kilometres separating the village from the border where Russia was pounding Ukraine's vital infrastructure the villagers could be forgiven for imagining Armageddon.

 

The missile landed outside the rural village of Przewodów.   Photo: Facebook

Poland, of course as a NATO member sees Article 5 standing behind it since an attack on any member of NATO is considered an attack on the entire military group with consequences for the attacker facing 30 national militaries. In the interests of cooling down rising anger in avoidance of rash reactions, it made eminently good sense, despite Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's intimations of a deliberate Russian attack, in the greater interest of keeping the conflict confined to a country rather than risk a regional spread and a global war.

Understandably, Ukraine wants an end to its agony, and drawing in superior numbers to face off with a failing Russian advance and conclude the invasion with Moscow's ignominious forced withdrawal including the reparations that would be imposed would reflect Ukraine's first order of priorities. As the only country in the region with a full frontal attack, all others hoping to deflect one, even by a Russia that has been fairly effectively defanged.

NATO's vow to defend "every inch" of its territory, despite Warsaw's initial readiness in response to what appeared to be a direct attack challenging the military coalition, would not be put to the test this time around, however. After all, while world leaders were in conference in Bali, Moscow decided to launch an unprecedented barrage of missiles all over Ukraine, targeting its energy infrastructure; telecommunications, gas, water, plunging the country into a winter war plague.

 

Poland's NATO  partners sent messages of solidarity and the G20 was in a state of consternation as Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed them by videolink; the strike, he hammered home, represented a "true statement brought by Russia for the G20 summit"; a "terrorist state" was seated among them. But then, after all, tiny Przewodow a mere 130 kilometres from Lublin would not be the epicentre of the Third World War after all.

 

No evidence exists, Polish President Duda said a day later, of an intentional attack, as did President Biden. Mateusz Morawioecki, the Polish prime minister, said that Russia could "perfectly plan such a thing". And a former Polish general stated, "You don't start a war by blowing up a tractor". Tense calm prevailed.

Police officers work outside a grain depot where, according to the Polish government, an explosion of a Russian-made missile killed two people in Przewodow, Poland, November 16, 2022. (Michal Dyjuk/AP)