On August 22, 2024, an incident involving the Romanian Sky Guardians Anti-Aircraft Defence Detachment occurred at the NATO training base in Bemowo Piskie, Poland. During a scheduled night shooting session with Gepard systems at the South Hills Range, several rounds ricocheted and struck the nearby village of Bemowo Piskie, causing material damage to civilian buildings. According to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, the detachment commander was informed at 10:30 PM that two ammunition elements had fallen in the village near the firing range. The Romanian military stated:
On Thursday, August 22, the Sky Guardians Anti-Aircraft Defense Detachment conducted a night shooting session with the Gepard systems in use, at the South Hills Firing Range in Poland. At 10:30 p.m., the detachment commander was informed that two ammunition elements had fallen in the village of Bemowo Piskie, located near the firing range, causing material damage.
Romanian Army official communication on the incident
The Romanian detachment, which is on its 15th rotation at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, will provide the Polish Military Police with all necessary data and information to clarify the circumstances of the incident. The approximately 100 Romanian anti-aircraft gunners are participating in exercises and training activities alongside their American, British, Croatian, and Polish counterparts during their six-month mission, with the aim of improving cohesion and increasing interoperability among NATO member troops.
Polish authorities, including the mayor of Biała Piska, Franciszek Romankiewicz, have demanded an explanation from the military regarding the incident. The Polish Military Police are investigating the cause of the ricochets and the circumstances of the events. Romankiewicz emphasized that the situation involved not just one bullet but “at least several,” estimating that as many as seven or more projectiles struck the area, which he described as unprecedented.
The projectiles impacted several apartment blocks about 4 kilometres from the training ground, a school playground and a shop gate. One of the most severe incidents involved a shell that broke through a window and penetrated the wall of an apartment where a resident was sleeping. Although the resident was shocked and received medical attention, he is now fine and has not requested relocation.
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