Poland intercepts Russian aircraft for the third time in a week

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces announced that its Air Force fighter jets intercepted a Russian IL-20 military reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea this morning.

The statement noted that at approximately 09:00 local time, two Polish MiG-29 jets were scrambled to intercept the Russian IL-20 aircraft, which was conducting a reconnaissance flight over the Baltic Sea without a flight plan and with its transponder turned off.

The Operational Command's statement said, "Such behavior poses a serious threat to the safety of civil and military air traffic in the region. After intercepting and identifying the Russian aircraft, the Polish pilots escorted it in accordance with NATO procedures." The statement also noted that Polish airspace was not violated. This marks the third incident since Tuesday in which a Russian reconnaissance aircraft has been intercepted by Polish jets.

IL-20 AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN INTERCEPTED BEFORE

The Polish Air Force reported last Tuesday that another Russian IL-20 aircraft, which was said to be flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea without a pre-filed flight plan and with its transponder off, had been intercepted by Polish fighter jets.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also announced yesterday morning that Polish MiG-29 fighter jets had intercepted another Russian IL-20 aircraft conducting a reconnaissance flight over the Baltic Sea. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated, "The threat to Poland comes from the east, from Russia; anyone today who promotes anti-German or anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and fuels such sentiments is acting against the interests of the Polish state." It was also reported in the statements that the Russian aircraft did not violate Polish airspace during either flight.

Countries on NATO's eastern flank have been on high alert since Russian military jets violated the airspace of Poland, Romania, Estonia, and Lithuania last month.