Two killed in Poland after missile strikes; Kremlin denies its role, Biden concurs

Two people died in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, firefighters said on Tuesday.

The Associated Press cited a senior US intelligence official as saying the blast was due to Russian missiles crossing into Poland.

"Firefighters are on the spot, it's not clear what has happened," said Lukasz Kucy, an officer on duty at a nearby firefighters' post.

Polish Radio ZET reported earlier that two stray missiles hit Przewodow on Tuesday, killing two people, without giving any more details.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda said that there was no conclusive evidence as to who fired the missile and that investigations were underway. He further said that the NATO allies are on standby

“The North Atlantic Alliance is on standby,” Duda said. “We have strengthened the readiness of the Polish armed forces, including the air defence. Our planes will be supported by allied planes. We act calmly and prudently.”

Russia has, however, dismissed the claims terming it a “deliberate provocation.”In a statement on Telegram, defence minister Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoiguwas quoted as saying, “Statements by Polish media and officials about Russian missiles hitting Polish territory are a deliberate provocation aimed at escalating the situation.”

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The Pentagon said on Tuesday it could not confirm reports that Russian missiles have crossed into Poland near the Ukraine border.

"We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland near the Ukraine border. I can tell you that we don't have any information at this time to corroborate those reports and are looking into this further," Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told a news briefing.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, who is in Bali for the G20 meet, convened an "emergency meeting of theGroup of Seven (G7) and NATO leaders in Indonesia on Wednesday morning for consultations.

According to the White House, Biden had a telephone conversation with President Duda and“expressed deep condolences for the loss of life in eastern Poland". He also offered Poland “full US support for and assistance" with the investigation. He also said that it was "unlikely" that the missiles that killed two were fired from Russia.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called an urgent meeting of a government committee for national security and defence affairs, the government spokesman said on Twitter.

Russia rained missiles on cities across Ukraine on Tuesday in what Ukraine said was the heaviest wave of missile strikes in nearly nine months of the war, echoing a pattern in recent weeks of Moscow lashing out far from the front after battlefield losses.

(with inputs from agencies)