One of the men killed by a missile that struck the village of Przewodów last week was buried yesterday, the first of two funerals following a blast that raised fears that the war in Ukraine could spiral into a wider conflict. 

The man buried on Saturday, named in Polish media only as 62-year-old Boguslaw W., was working at a grain-drying facility in the village when the missile struck. The funeral of the second victim, identified as 60-year-old Bogdan C., will take place today. Most media outlets have not published the victims’ surnames out of consideration for their families.

While the tragedy deeply shook the people of Przewodów, the mayor of the local municipality praised the local population for being “a tough community.” Speaking to reporters on Friday, Grzegorz Drewnik described how locals “know that we live close to the border with Ukraine. We must be prepared for various inconveniences and stressful situations. We will endure it.”

Source – Radio Poland

Officials from Poland, NATO, and the US continue to stress that the ultimate responsibility for the explosion in southeastern Poland lies with Russia, which continues to launch daily missile attacks against civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.

Russian missile strikes have crippled almost half of Ukraine’s energy system, the Ukrainian government said on Friday, and authorities in the capital Kyiv warned that the city could face a “complete shutdown” of the power grid as winter sets in.

Speaking during a trip to the Middle East, Dr. Colin H. Kahl, a senior Pentagon official, claimed that intense Russian missile attacks on Ukraine are aimed at exhausting the country’s air defense resources.

Kahl went on to promise that the US was well-acquainted with “the Russian theory of victory” and was “committed to making sure that’s not going to work by making sure that the Ukrainians get what they need to keep their air defenses viable.”

Source – Source: Radio Poland, PAP

At least 17 collisions and road accidents were reported across Pomerania yesterday due to poor driving conditions amidst recent winter storms.

Intense snowfall was reported yesterday in Pomerania near the gulf of Gdańsk, in the regions of Kaszuby and Kociewie, and along the central coast. Wet conditions were reported on most national roads, with slush and slippery conditions reported around Chojnice and Człuchów, and snow reported on the A1 motorway.

Most accidents occurred on provincial roads, including an incident in which a delivery van collided with a passenger car at the intersection in Zagony near Tuchom. According to Dawid Łaszcz from the Bytów police, there were “no injuries, and the participants were transported to the hospital for routine examinations, after which they were released and sent home.”

With snowfall again in the forecast today, police are urging motorists to exercise additional caution and reduce speeds as road conditions remain poor across the region.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Polish and Ukrainian pianists dominated the finals competition of the 12th International Ignacy Jan Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz over the weekend.

Polish pianist Mateusz Krzyżowski took home the top prize of EUR 30,000, followed by Pedro Salas López of Spain and Danylo Saienko of Ukraine. Poland’s other finalist, Piotr Pawlak, was awarded an honorable mention alongside Japan’s Shio Okui.

All finalists will perform in a “Laureates” concert tonight at 17:00 at the Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic Concert Hall in Bydgoszcz, with an additional concert tomorrow evening at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw.

Special prizes will be awarded as part of tonight’s performances in Bydgoszcz. More information on the competition and the upcoming concerts can be found online at paderewskicompetition.pl.

Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk, paderewskicompetition.pl

The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar today, and Radio Gdańsk will be adjusting its programming over the next few weeks so listeners can enjoy the competition at home.

From Monday to Saturday, Radio Gdańsk will air a World Cup report at 7:35, covering results from previous matches along with materials from Qatar, prepared by co-workers and friends of Radio Gdańsk. Monday to Friday, starting at 13:15, Radio Gdańsk journalists will also prepare a preview of upcoming matches, with additional time for news and expert commentary at 17:10 each day.

World Cup updates will also feature in the weekend sports broadcast “Radio Gdańsk z Boisk i Stadionów,” which airs from 17:05-20:00 on Saturdays. During each broadcast, there will be a half-hour studio session with guests to discuss World Cup news and events.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicks off today at 17:00 CET with the opening match against host team Qatar and 44th-ranked Ecuador.

Poland’s first match will be against Mexico on Tuesday, November 22, at 17:00 CET.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, www.qatar2022.qa

Weather

Today will be cold and mostly cloudy, with a chance for some light snow in the afternoon and a gentle breeze coming in from the south. Temperatures will stay below freezing with a high of -1°C, or 31°F, dropping slightly to -3°C or 27°F overnight. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for more snow as the week progresses.

 Elizabeth Peck