Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
“A pair of on-duty Polish MiG-29 fighter jets successfully intercepted and visually identified a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, escorting it away from Poland’s area of responsibility,” the Operational Command said in a post on the X platform.
According to the statement, the Russian Il-20 aircraft was conducting its ninth reconnaissance mission of the year in international airspace. The aircraft was flying without a filed flight plan and had its transponder switched off. It did not enter Polish airspace.
The command added that Polish military personnel maintain constant vigilance over the country’s skies and that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland are prepared to respond to any threat to national airspace.
In recent years, Russian military aircraft have repeatedly flown near or into the airspace of NATO countries, raising security concerns across northern Europe.
Notably, on 19 September 2025, three Russian MiG-31 aircraft briefly entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without a flight plan or active transponders before being escorted out by NATO jets.
Similar incidents have occurred in Lithuania, Poland and Norway, including drone incursions and brief overflights from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, highlighting what officials describe as a persistent pattern of provocative operations near alliance borders.
NATO officials have condemned these flights as irresponsible, stressing that the alliance will take all necessary measures to defend member states’ sovereignty.
Russia has consistently denied violations and maintains that its operations comply with international law.
The repeated incidents have prompted increased air policing missions and renewed calls for stronger air defence along NATO’s eastern flank.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinar...
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringin...
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Anim...
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Was...
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringing together government representatives, city leaders, urban planners, international organisations, businesses and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable urban development.
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastructure plans and growing EU support. But behind the ambitious pitch lies a far more complicated political reality.
Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a large-scale fraud and corruption scheme linked to labour migration to South Korea, with estimated damages reaching $90 million.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
Thousands of fans turned out in Iran's capital Tehran for a massive farewell ceremony on Wednesday night for their national football team, wishing them success before their departure for the World Cup 2026 matches co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, following a ceremonial welcome, with both leaders highlighting cooperation despite ongoing tensions.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinary survival trick: when threatened, it creates the illusion that it has two heads.
Egyptian authorities have unveiled two restored ancient tombs in Luxor alongside a rare artefact linked to King Tutankhamun, offering visitors new insight into life and burial practices during the New Kingdom more than 3,000 years ago.
A U.S. Department of Justice official said Washington was preparing to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of aircraft operated by "Brothers to the Rescue", a Miami-based exile group that conducted search-and-rescue flights for Cuban migrants.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment