GDANSK (Reuters) -Polish energy group Orlen on Thursday reported a near 74% rise in its second-quarter profit, with a strong upstream performance helping to offset the impact of lower refining margins and asset write-downs.

A Polish general said early evidence points to the drone having a Chinese engine, and that it was likely "flying very low" to avoid radar.

Amid discussions about a potential foreign military mission in Ukraine, Warsaw's position remains unchanged - Polish soldiers will not be deployed to Ukraine. Source: Polish radio station RMF FM citing Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz,

The Polish news agency says an unidentified flying object has crashed and exploded in a cornfield in the country’s east

Moscow launched 40 missiles and nearly 600 drones across Ukraine overnight, forcing Poland to scramble jets as the western city of Lviv was hit. Follow the latest.

"Due to the reduction in the level of threat from missile strikes by Russian aviation on Ukrainian territory, the operations of Polish and allied aviation in Polish airspace have been concluded," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on X.

The Netherlands will send 300 soldiers with air defense and anti-drone systems to Poland, caretaker defense minister Ruben Brekelmans has said. The deployment will begin in December to protect the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine from Russian attacks.

Polish energy group Orlen on Thursday reported a nearly 74% rise in its second-quarter adjusted core profit, with a strong upstream performance helping to offset the impact of lower refining margins and asset write-downs.

Poland, one of Ukraine's Western neighbours, is still host to about 1 million Ukrainian refugees who fled after Russia invaded their homeland in February 2022. They have helped fuel Poland's tight labour market and boost economic growth, according to observers, a trend Fitch sees continuing.