Polish Fighters Intercept Russian Il-20 Reconnaissance Plane — Bild

Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea after it flew near Poland’s airspace, Bild reported, citing information from the Polish government.

The Russian military intelligence-gathering plane was operating roughly 30 kilometers north of Łeba, a Polish Baltic Sea resort town. Polish authorities said the aircraft did not enter Polish airspace, but it approached close enough that the Polish Air Force decided to scramble fighters and intercept it, according to the report.

Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the episode as evidence that “Russia once again tested the defense and air-defense systems.” The interception follows several reported approaches by Russian military aircraft toward Polish airspace over the Baltic in late July and early August.

The latest incident underscores continuing aerial monitoring and rapid-reaction activity by Polish forces in the Baltic region, where Warsaw has repeatedly scrambled jets in response to Russian military flights near its airspace.