The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said in a post on the X social media platform that a pair of Polish MiG-29 jets from the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork intercepted and visually identified the Russian Il-20 aircraft on May 6.
According to the Operational Command, the Russian plane took off from an airfield in Russia's Kaliningrad region and was flying on a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Baltic Sea without entering Polish airspace.
The post added that the same aircraft was intercepted on May 3 by a pair of Polish F-16 jets from the 31st Tactical Air Base in Krzesiny.
Earlier this year, two French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets intercepted two Russian SU-30-M aircraft over the Baltic Sea and a Russian AN-72 transport plane flying in international airspace north of Poland, according to reports at the time,
NATO says its air forces across Europe last year "scrambled well over 300 times to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching Alliance airspace, with most intercepts occurring over the Baltic Sea."
Russia’s war against Ukraine "has created the most dangerous security situation in Europe in decades,” acting NATO spokesman Dylan White has said.
"NATO fighter jets are on duty around the clock, ready to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights near the airspace of our Allies," he added.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 805 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: PAP, ukrinform.net