Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea after it approached within 30 kilometres of Poland’s coast near Ustka. The aircraft was flying in international airspace without a flight plan and with its transponder switched off but did not enter Polish airspace.
After Polish pilots signalled the aircraft to leave the area, it turned back towards Russia. Defence Minister W?adys?aw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the incident appeared to be an attempt to gather intelligence on Poland’s air defence systems and described it as part of Russia’s ongoing hybrid activities against NATO. It was the latest in a series of similar interceptions over the Baltic Sea this year.