Poland scrambles two F-16 fighter jets to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea, a Polish defense official says. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz states the aircraft is located about 40 kilometers north of Kołobrzeg (Kolobrzeg) and remains in international airspace. He says the Russian plane flies without an active flight plan and with its transponder switched off. Polish authorities describe the interception as part of their airspace monitoring and response procedures.
The incident follows a separate event reported by multiple NATO and Polish officials on July 30, when a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile enters Polish airspace and crashes near Tarnawa-Kolonia in eastern Poland. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the missile was likely Russian, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemns the incursion. Taken together, the two events highlight heightened concern over Russian military activity near Poland and NATO-adjacent areas, with Poland conducting interceptions to manage perceived aviation and airspace risks.
