we shift our focus to the
ongoing war in Ukraine.
Volodymyr zelenskyy said he had
no doubt that his country was
not to blame for a missile
strike on Tuesday that hit a
Polish village, killing two
people.
That is despite nato's initial
assessment was the blast took
place as Ukraine was trying to
defend itself.
All parties are urging restraint
for right now.
For the moment, the incident
highlighted how little it would
take to widen the scope of the
war.
While Russia continues to target
civilian infrastructure and the
electrical grid.
For more on what the winter will
look like, we are joined by Greg
miry.
Greg: Good to be here.
Geoff: What's the latest on the
investigation of the missile
strike that hit that Polish
village four miles from the
Ukrainian border?
Greg: Poland has invited the
United States and now Ukraine to
figure out what happened.
It shouldn't be a huge mystery.
The missile left a big crater.
There were fragments providing
what seems to be enough
information to identify who's
missile it was.
There seems to be a general
consensus among Poland, U.S.,
and nato that this was a
Ukrainian air defense missile.
Russia was firing 100 missiles
into Ukraine on Tuesday.
Ukraine shot a lot of them down.
About 75 of them down.
It seems this morning question
mystics target.
These missiles are then supposed
to self-destruct.
This one did not and landed in
Poland.
President zelenskyy has not
acknowledged it might be a
Ukrainian missile.
Nobody is blaming him.
Poland, U.S., nato said they all
understand why this happened.
It seems like the thing to do is
say ok, it was an accident.
Ukraine and president zelenskyy
have not acknowledged it was
there missile.
Geoff: What does his reluctance
to acknowledge, what does the
international response suggest
to you about the geopolitical
landscape right now in month 10
of this war?
Greg: What's notable about this
is Ukraine and its western
backers have pretty much been on
the same page.
They had a few little quibbles.
It is unusual for them not to be
in agreement.
That is what is significant.
Quite frankly I think among the
western countries there is a
real sense of relief that it was
a Ukrainian missile rather than
a Russian missile.
If it were a Russian missile you
would have all sorts of issues.
A strike in a nato country, was
it accidental?
How do you respond?
In terms of the geopolitics, it
is much easier to say this is an
understandable accident.
Let's move on, let's not get
involved in some big
confrontation with Russia in
addition to all of the issues in
front of us right now.
Geoff: Russia is targeting
civilian infrastructure from
bridges and roads, to the
electrical grid.
That strikes me as a concerted
effort.
Unlawful effort by Russian
forces.
How do you see it?
Greg: That's a pretty good
summary.
The Russian ground forces have
really not been able to advance
for the last four months or so.
They have been pushed back.
The Russian Navy is sitting out
on the black sea.
Not really doing much beyond
that.
The Russian air force is not
sending many if any planes to
Ukrainian airspace.
They are getting shot down.
Russia's military efforts have
really come to a standstill or
been in reverse in recent
months.
The one vulnerable spot the
Russians have picked out and
determined is to fire the
barrage of missiles at Ukrainian
civilians and in particular the
energy grid.
It is getting cold very fast.
Temperatures dipping below
freezing here in Kyiv.
The efforts to repair the energy
system, Ukrainians have shown a
real ability to do that.
It will be a real struggle to do
this.
The Russians hit it.
Every time we go through this
cycle the Ukrainians lose a
little bit of capacity.
It will be a real battle this
winter to see who can stay ahead
of the other side.
Geoff: In the 30 seconds we have
left, what are you hearing from
people as you do your reporting?
Greg: The Ukrainians are not
lessening their resolve.
If you look at the beginning of
the war you did see millions of
people leave Ukraine and go to
Poland and other countries.
They are not doing that now.
They know it is going to be a
hard winter.
They are already experiencing
power cuts.
You see them staying.
We will fight it out.
The intention is to stay here
and not to leave.
Geoff: Thanks so much, Greg.
Greg: My pleasure.