US President Joe Biden is reportedly „following closely” reports of a missile temporarily entering Polish airspace and has pledged America’s „solidarity with Poland.”

Biden’s words were echoed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who spoke to Polish President Andrzej Duda on Friday about the „incursion into Polish airspace,” saying the Western alliance „stands in solidarity with our valued ally” over the incident.

Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Federation Friday evening to „request an explanation of the incident of violating Poland’s airspace by a cruise missile” and urging Russia to „immediately cease this kind of activity.”

The Polish military has reportedly launched a ground search in the eastern Lubelskie province, where the Polish army claims some 480 troops are searching to „make sure no remains of the object have remained in Poland.”

The General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces said in a statement last Friday that „an object violated Polish airspace at 7:12 local time from the direction of the border with Ukraine, before leaving Poland’s territory after less than three minutes.”

The object was a „Russian cruise missile,” military officials added.

Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk

Officials in Ukraine say the death toll from Russia’s most recent air attack rose to 39 on Saturday as rescuers continued to clear debris and rubble from the bombardment.

Early Friday morning, Russia launched 158 ballistic and cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones at some 120 cities and towns across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, and Zaporizhzhia.

In a post yesterday on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that 39 people were killed and 159 injured in the strikes.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that one person was killed and nine were injured in the western city of Lviv, while in the capital of Kyiv, at least 16 people were killed, reportedly the highest civilian death toll in the city during the nearly 22 months since Russia’s invasion.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers were continuing to pick through rubble in the city, where a warehouse and several residential and commercial buildings were hit. Kyiv has declared January 1 a day of mourning for the victims.

Today is day 676 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Source: Polskie Radio

Poland’s Culture Minister Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz announced on Friday that he was placing 17 regional radio broadcasters „in liquidation,” along with other public media institutions.

Sienkiewicz claimed the move was a continuation of his December 27 decision to put Poland’s state media „in liquidation” to ensure that the companies „can continue to function, undergo the necessary restructuring, and avoid having to dismiss staff,” following President Duda’s veto of funding for state media in the 2024 budget.

Duda vetoed the PLN 3 billion (EUR 690 million) in funding after Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government replaced the CEOs of state media in what Tusk called a move to „restore the impartiality” of public broadcasters and „legal order.”

President Duda and members of the politically-appointed National Broadcasting Council (KRRiTV) claim the ruling government’s actions were „illegal” and constituted „a blatant breach of the constitution.” They have reportedly referred the matter to the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA).

Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk

Members of the OTOZ Animals Society will be on patrol this evening to help care for distressed animals and pets lost during tonight’s New Year’s Eve (Sylwester) festivities.

According to Ewa Gebert, president of the National Animal Protection Society OTOZ Animals, the end of the year is a particularly stressful time for pets as dogs hear sounds much more intensely than humans, and the explosions and bright flashes of Sylwester fireworks can cause some pets to panic and flee.

Ms. Gebert encourages pet owners to limit fireworks in residential areas and take steps to reduce the stress of their furry friends by preparing a quiet space for them, making sure someone can stay home with pets, not letting animals out after 8:00 p.m. or without a leash, and making sure pets have proper identification or tags in case they escape.

OTOZ Animals, which provides services and shelters across Pomerania, will operate their New Year’s Eve Animal patrol all night tonight to help care for runaway animals. Any missing pets should be reported to the local police, city guard, or crisis management center.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, otoz.pl

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy, with very little chance of rain and a gentle breeze coming from the southeast. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a high of 3°C, or 38°F, dropping to just above freezing overnight with a low of 1°C or 34°F. Slightly warmer weather is expected for New Year’s Day, accompanied by a chance for rain later in the week.

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Elizabeth Peck/MarWer