The examination of the explosion site in Przewodów, near the Polish-Ukrainian border, has been completed. “Evidence has been secured and will be examined by experts”, said the spokesman for the National Prosecutor’s Office, Łukasz Łapczyński.

The proceedings regarding the explosion in Przewodów are being conducted on the charge of manslaughter for causing an accident endangering the life and health of many people or property of significant size in the form of an explosion of blast materials, resulting in the deaths of two people.

“In addition to expert examinations, the activities of the investigation will focus on obtaining information through international legal assistance. Arrangements are also being made between the Polish and Ukrainian sides to cooperate in the investigation”, said Łapczyński.

The explosion in the village of Przewodów in the Lublin Voivodeship, located close to the Polish-Ukrainian border, occurred on Tuesday, 15 November, the day when Russian forces launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine.

According to the Polish authorities’ later reports, a missile, most likely from Ukrainian air defence, fell on the site of a grain drying facility in Przewodów, and resulted in an explosion that killed two Poles. It was stressed that everything indicated that the situation was the result of an unfortunate accident.

The investigation into the explosion is being conducted by the Mazovian Regional Department for Organised Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors, officers from the Police, Border Guard, ABW, CBŚP, soldiers, as well as experts from the Military Institute of Armament Technology in Zielonka and the Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police Headquarters, pyrotechnicians and American experts working at the scene. Ukrainian experts also took part in the examination of the explosion site on Friday and left Przewodovo a few hours later.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński