Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, the third such incident in a matter of days, the Polish government announced on Tuesday.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X that the Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was 56 kilometers northeast of the city of Koszalin when two Polish fighter jets intercepted it. Poland's Ministry of Defense said Polish airspace was not violated during the incident.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said Russia had once again carried out provocative actions near the borders of NATO member states, testing the vigilance and operational readiness of the alliance's defense systems.
Pattern of incidents over the Baltic
Similar incidents involving Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea occurred on Monday and the previous Friday. Warsaw said Russian reconnaissance flights near the coast of Poland, a NATO member state, have recently increased again.
In mid-July, Polish fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft on three consecutive days. During one of those interceptions, Polish pilots established visual contact with the crew of the Russian aircraft and signaled that it needed to move away.
Concerns over Russian provocations
Poland and the Baltic states fear that Russia, facing difficulties in its war in Ukraine, may increase provocations against NATO member states, including through reconnaissance aircraft flights.
