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.
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