NATO Fighters Intercept Russian Aircraft Near Polish Airspace Over Baltic Sea

On Thursday, two Swedish fighter jets, operating under NATO command, were dispatched to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that was nearing Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea, as reported by Sweden’s armed forces.

«The aircraft was approaching Polish airspace, prompting us to take off to indicate our presence, conduct a visual identification, and escort it out of the area,» stated Therese Akerstedt, a spokesperson for the Swedish Air Force, in an interview with AFP.

The Swedish jets, based at Malbork in Poland, identified the aircraft as a Russian IL-20. The interception took place in international airspace, according to a statement from the Swedish military.

Sweden joined NATO in March 2024.

The Baltic region has seen heightened tensions since Russia initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.