Polish Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Spy Plane Over Baltic Sea Near NATO Border

Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea on Thursday after the spy plane approached NATO borders with its identification transponders turned off. The Russian Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance aircraft was flying near NATO airspace with its tracking systems disabled and identification data concealed, prompting the Polish Air Force response over international waters. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz characterized the incident as an aggressive action by Moscow designed to test Poland's air defense systems. Such aerial intercepts have become increasingly common as tensions between NATO and Russia remain high, with alliance members regularly scrambling jets to monitor Russian military aircraft operating near their borders.