Polish Military Intercepts Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft Over Baltic Sea The Polish military intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea on May 13. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the incident in a social media post, describing it as "another aggressive move by the Russian Federation" and a test of Poland’s air defense systems. The Russian Ił-20 reconnaissance plane was flying without active transponder signals, a tactic that raised concerns about potential risks to other aircraft. Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that the flight without transponders posed a threat to aviation safety and that Polish pilots were prepared to respond swiftly to any provocation. The interception occurred in international airspace, and Polish authorities stated that the Russian aircraft did not enter Polish territorial airspace. The minister’s comments were posted on the platform X, where he highlighted the incident as part of a broader pattern of Russian military activity. The Polish military’s Operational Command of the Armed Forces reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national airspace. A statement from the command noted that Russian aircraft operated without a coordinated flight plan and with transponders disabled, a maneuver often used to evade detection. Despite the provocative nature of the flight, Polish forces did not engage the aircraft, as it remained within international waters. The command emphasized that its forces remain "fully prepared for immediate action" in any scenario. The incident occurred amid a surge in Russian military activity against Ukraine.#nato_allies #baltic_sea #polish_military #wladyslaw_kosiniakkamysz #russian_federation
