Polish military prosecutors investigate decoy drone found in Konin coal mine

Investigators describe the object as a primitive decoy made of plywood, whose external appearance resembles military hardware. Authorities confirmed that at the time of discovery, the device contained no explosives or a functional warhead. Prosecutorial activities at the discovery site concluded on the night of March 12-13, 2026. The drone was located on the grounds of a brown coal mine within the Konin Lignite Basin. Services secured the area immediately after receiving the report to rule out the presence of additional threats. Investigators suspect the plywood object may have been on Polish territory for several months, following a known airspace violation in September. The primitive construction of this "decoy" suggests it was designed to appear on radar systems as a more serious threat, aiming to divert attention or test air defense capabilities. The military prosecutor's office is currently analyzing the flight path and materials used to build the decoy. Experts are working to determine the exact origin of the machine and whether it was launched from within Polish territory or from outside its borders. No detailed electronic tracking data regarding the drone's entry point has been made public. The involvement of military prosecutors indicates the incident is being treated as a potential breach of national security. The discovery has revived discussion about the security of critical infrastructure in central Poland and the monitoring of national airspace. Konin constitutes a significant energy hub, which is why the presence of unidentified flying objects nearby raises concerns for local and national authorities. Security analysts noted that the use of cheap materials like plywood is a tactical choice aimed at minimizing production costs while achieving the goal of saturating radars. The Polish military maintains a high state of readiness for such violations, which have become more frequent in the regional geopolitical climate. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland has faced multiple violations of its airspace. In November 2022, a stray missile struck the village of Przewodów near the border, resulting in two deaths. Another significant incident occurred in late 2022 when a Russian Kh-55 missile entered Polish airspace, and its wreckage was later found in a forest near Bydgoszcz in April 2023. These events prompted Poland to significantly accelerate the modernization of its air defense systems, including the integration of the Wisła and Narew programs. The prosecutor's office has not yet indicated any suspects or specific entities responsible for deploying the decoy. Local media highlight the surprising nature of the find, considering the mine's distance from Poland's eastern border. „Sklejka, prymitywny wabik” (Plywood, a primitive decoy.) — Anonymous investigator via Radio Zet Drone discovery and investigation: — ; — ; —