“There is no consent to weakening Poland’s air defence at a time when those in power themselves are warning of growing threats,” said PiS deputy leader Przemysław Czarnek, referring to reports that Poland had transferred missiles for the Patriot system to Ukraine. He is demanding information from the government on how the weapons will be replenished.
Reports have emerged in the public sphere that Poland allegedly transferred some of its PAC-3 MSE missiles to Ukraine in recent months, the most advanced missiles used in Patriot air defence systems. Despite efforts by the US manufacturer to increase production, amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and the intensive use of this type of missile, they remain in short supply.
Opposition politicians and figures close to the president reacted critically to these media reports. In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on Sunday that, after consulting the prime minister, he had ordered the declassification of all donations to Ukraine made between 2022 and 2026. During a press conference on Monday, former Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the decision to declassify the donations to Ukraine was an attempt to “blur” the reports concerning the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
“The government has a duty”
The matter was commented on in social media by PiS deputy leader and the party’s candidate for prime minister, Przemysław Czarnek.
“If it were not for pressure from public opinion, the government would still be hiding from Poles the fact that PAC-3 MSE missiles had been transferred to Ukraine. Decisions concerning national security cannot be made quietly and come to light only when those in power are forced to disclose them,” he said.
“There is no consent to weakening Poland’s air defence at a time when those in power themselves are warning of growing threats. The most strategic weapons simply should not be handed over, and Tusk’s government did so thoughtlessly and without ensuring an immediate replenishment of stocks or full guarantees that the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces would not be limited,”
he stated.
According to Czarnek, “Poland’s security cannot be the subject of political games, secret decisions or improvisation.”
“The government has a duty to answer immediately how it intends to replenish the transferred missiles and when Poland will regain its full defence capabilities,”
he stressed.
Additional sitting of the Sejm
Earlier, Błaszczak announced that he would submit a motion for an additional sitting of the Sejm later this week, during which the defence minister would be expected to present information on the matter.