- Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane over international waters in the Baltic Sea, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
- This was the first recent Russian attempt to approach Poland's maritime border to probe Polish air defenses, the minister said.
- The incident occurred about 30 kilometers from Ustka on Poland's Baltic coast.
- Two Polish fighters established contact and signaled the Il-20 to leave, after which the plane moved toward Russia.
- Poland accused Russia of conducting hybrid warfare and reconnaissance, hostile toward NATO members since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Polish fighter jets on Tuesday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane in international waters over the Baltic Sea, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told a press conference.
“This is the first Russian attempt in a long time to approach our maritime border in order to probe our air defense systems,” he said.
The interception shows that Russia “is constantly conducting hybrid warfare, conducting reconnaissance, and is hostile toward all countries of the North Atlantic alliance,” he added.
The incident took place about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Ustka, a spa town on Poland’s Baltic coast, according to the minister.
Two Polish fighter jets established contact with a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft, signalling it should leave the area.
The plane then moved in the direction of Russia, the minister indicated.
Poland, a NATO and EU member state, has frequently accused Russia of making “hybrid threats” since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
