Writing earlier on social media, the Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces (DORSZ) said that two MiG 29 planes had been scrambled from Malbork Air Base in Northern Poland to intercept an Il-20 reconnaissance plane that had taken off in Kaliningrad.

Identified as Russian, the plane proceeded through international airspace over the Baltic Sea before being escorted away. Writing on X, DORSZ emphasized that the plane “did not breach Polish territorial waters”.

The same aircraft had been intercepted just days prior on May 3rd. On that occasion, two F-16s from the 31st Tactical Air Base in Krzesiny were credited with shepherding it away. “Every day the pilots of the Polish Armed Forces are on alert and ready to ensure the protection of Poland’s skies,” DORSZ added.

First built in 1968, the Ilyushin Il-20M later became a familiar sight over European waters at the height of the Cold War. In more recent times, it was deployed by Russia in Syria. Last year, an ll-20 was intercepted by two German Eurofighter Typhoons after being spotted over the Baltic Sea.