Polish jets intercepted a Russian aircraft on a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, the Polish Army said on Wednesday.
Posting on X, the army’s Operational Command said the plane, which was intercepted on Tuesday, did not have a filed flight plan and had turned its transponder off.
The post read: “Polish fighters intercepted an Il-20 aircraft conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off. The aircraft did not violate Polish airspace.”
It added: “Thanks to high combat readiness, the professionalism of the pilots, and the efficient functioning of the air defense system, the operations were carried out quickly, effectively, and safely.
“Protecting Polish airspace is not only a duty but also a daily mission of the soldiers of the Polish Army, who are fully committed to safeguarding the security of our country.”
Airspace violations
The rapid response of Polish and allied fighters over NATO airspace has become critical as Russian aircraft, drones, and even weather balloons increasingly violate airspace following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tensions spiked after the most recent breach, when 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace during a mass strike on Ukraine, prompting NATO jets to scramble and later join Polish forces in joint patrols.
Poland is not alone in facing these incursions. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia report similar violations, fueling debate among several NATO members about whether Russian jets should simply be shot down if they enter allied airspace.
At a UN Security Council meeting in September, Poland’s foreign minister warned that Russia should not “whine” if its planes are downed for breaching NATO airspace, calling such violations part of an escalating “hybrid war” Moscow has waged against the West “for years.”