Polish F-16 fighter jets have intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea for the second time in two days, according to Poland’s Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces stated that the aircraft did not enter Polish airspace but was flying without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off, Kosiniak-Kamysz said on the social media platform X.
The minister described the incident as a provocation by Russia aimed at testing Poland’s air defence systems.
“Thanks to the constant combat readiness of pilots, soldiers and ground personnel, Polish airspace remains safe. The armed forces are ready for immediate response and defence of airspace every day,” the defence minister wrote.
Poland had previously intercepted a Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea in a similar incident.
