A Russian Ilyushin Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted over the Baltic Sea by a pair of Polish MiG-29 fighter jets on duty. The Russian plane once again flew without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off, posing a threat in international airspace. This marks the third intervention by Polish pilots this week — a clear sign of growing Russian aerial activity in the region.
Shortly before 9:00 a.m., a pair of Polish MiG-29 fighters intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea. The incident was reported by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces (DORSZ).
According to the official statement, the Russian aircraft was once again operating in a manner dangerous to civilian air traffic — without a filed flight plan and with its transponder switched off, making it invisible to civilian radar systems. In response to the threat, Polish pilots immediately took action. “Polish pilots intercepted and identified the foreign aircraft, which was then escorted in accordance with NATO procedures,” the Command said.
DORSZ emphasized that Polish airspace was not violated. Nevertheless, the incident is yet another example of Russia’s provocative behavior in the region.
Friday’s interception was the third such mission by the Polish Air Force in the past few days. Similar incidents occurred on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, Polish MiG-29s also intercepted a Russian Il-20 conducting a reconnaissance mission over the Baltic under similar circumstances. Another incident was reported on Thursday by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“This is already the third such situation this week, confirming the increasing activity of Russian aviation in the Baltic region,” the Operational Command noted in its statement. The Russian Il-20 (NATO reporting name: Coot-A) is designed for complex image and electronic reconnaissance (ELINT). Its task is to collect data on radar operations, communication systems, and other electromagnetic signals — information crucial for military planning.
Polish pilots regularly serve on combat duty as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, which protects the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — countries that do not have their own fighter aviation. The mission operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as a symbol of allied solidarity and readiness to defend every inch of NATO territory.