Poland scrambles jets again as Russian warplanes test Baltic skies

Polish jets have intercepted two more Russian fighter planes and a reconnaissance aircraft off the Baltic coast, Poland’s defence minister said.

The incident marks the third day in succession that Russian military aircraft have been escorted away from Poland’s maritime borders, TVP World reports.

“The Russians are testing the capabilities of our air defense systems again,” Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz posted on the X platform on July 16 afternoon.

He said that after Polish jets were scrambled due to the presence of two Russian Su-30 multirole combat jets over the Baltic Sea, they were redirected to an IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft 30 kilometres off the coast.

As in the previous two incidents on July 14-15, the Russian planes did not violate Polish airspace, the minister said.

By Vafa Guliyeva