Poland has decided to move additional troops and combat helicopters to the Belarusian border after two Belarusian helicopters crossed into Polish airspace yesterday.

The two Belarusian machines flew into Polish airspace near the village of Białowieża on Tuesday during an air exercise near the border, according to a statement by Poland’s defense ministry.
In response, Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak ordered an increase in the number of troops at the border and other additional measures, such as combat helicopters, PAP reported.
The Polish government also “notified NATO” about the incident, according to officials, and the Foreign Ministry summoned the Belarusian chargé d’affaires yesterday to “explain the incident in detail.”

Speaking after the incident, US Pentagon officials emphasized that the United States was taking the security of NATO very seriously and would work with allies to ensure that every inch of NATO territory remains secure.

Source: Radio Poland

Kyiv was rocked by a series of explosions this morning, with Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense reportedly shooting down nearly a dozen Shahed drones.

In a post on Telegram, Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko claimed the attack was repulsed, and no casualties or injuries had been reported as of 8:00 this morning. The remains of one Russian drone fell in the area of ​​the downtown district of Solomyansky, damaging a non-residential building.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian forces shelled a medical facility in Kherson yesterday, killing a young doctor and severely wounding a nurse.

Kherson Oblast’s western part, including the city of Kherson, was retaken by Ukrainian troops in November 2022, but lands on the eastern side of the Dnipro River remain under Russian control.
On Monday, four civilians were killed in a Russian artillery attack in the region.

Today is day 525 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Source: Polskie Radio, Radio Gdańsk

The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released by S&P Global shows a continuing decline in Poland’s manufacturing sector amidst a challenging economic climate at home and abroad.

The international financial services company reported on Tuesday that the Polish PMI dropped to 43.5 in July from 45.1 in June, signaling a downturn in the goods-producing sector for the 15th successive month and the worst overall performance since November 2022.

According to the S&P’s report, “output, new orders, exports, employment, and purchasing activity all decreased more quickly in July than in June amid widespread reports of demand weakness.”

The PMI is a composite indicator of manufacturing performance evaluated on the basis of new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times, and stocks of purchases.
Any figure greater than 50 indicates overall improvement in the sector.

Poland’s PMI in April 2020 fell to its lowest level on record amid virus fears, sinking to 31.9 from 42.4 a month earlier at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

Source: Polskie Radio

An 18-year-old tourist from England is in serious condition after being electrocuted while attempting to climb a catenary pole at the Gdańsk Stocznia SKM stop Monday night.

Reports indicate that the 18-year-old male decided to climb the catenary pole while he and a friend were waiting for a train back to Sopot. The climber was subsequently electrocuted with 3,000 volts and fell to the ground, at which point his friend called emergency services. The injured man was rushed to the hospital unconscious and in serious condition.

Police are currently investigating the matter by securing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Reports suggest that alcohol may have been involved, as the injured man’s friend was also reportedly under the influence at the time.

Officials have emphasized the dangers of approaching the traction network under any circumstances, warning that such high voltage is lethal and one can be electrocuted even without touching the wires.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a mix of sun and clouds with very little chance of rain during the day and a strong breeze coming from the southwest. Temperatures will be warmer than yesterday, with a daytime high of 23°C or 73°F, dropping to a low of 16°C or 61°F overnight. Similar temperatures are expected tomorrow, with a chance for rain showers throughout the day.

Elizabeth Peck/kł