Poland intercepts another Russian spy plane over the Baltic, calls it a new ‘provocation’

Poland has intercepted another Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, an incident Warsaw has described as part of a continuing pattern of Russian “provocations.”

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on X that Polish fighters intercepted the aircraft 40 kilometers north of Ustka, on Poland’s northern coast. He said the Russian plane had not activated its identification devices and represented a threat to civil aviation.

Similar incidents have recently taken place in the same area. Russian military aircraft flew with their transponders switched off and without registered flight plans, making remote identification more difficult and complicating the work of civilian air-traffic controllers.

The latest interception adds to a series of incidents Poland has reported in the Baltic airspace. On Aug. 31, another Il-20 was intercepted 30 kilometers from Łeba, not far from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. Two further interceptions took place near Koszalin that month. In July, Polish and Swedish air forces took part in interception operations involving several Russian aircraft, prompting NATO alert sorties to increase by 250% compared with the previous year. Polish and French aircraft also intercepted Russian planes over the Baltic in April and May. The aircraft involved were Il-20 spy planes or Su-30 fighters operating from the Kaliningrad area.

“

Another incident in the Baltic involving a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft 40 kilometers north of Ustka, where our fighters intercepted the Russian aircraft, which had not activated its identification devices and represented a threat to civil aviation.