Polish fighter jets intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft near the country's border
Polish fighter jets of the Polish Armed Forces intercepted, visually identified and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying in close proximity to the airspace of the Republic of Poland. This was reported by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
According to the military, the incident occurred on the night of 25 December. The plane did not violate Polish airspace, but its flight was considered potentially dangerous, so F 16 fighters were raised to accompany the plane until it moved away from the area of responsibility of Polish air defence.
The command also informed about the detection of several objects that flew into Poland from Belarus at night. After analysing the data, it was found that these were not military targets, but probably smuggled balloons, whose movement corresponded to the wind direction and speed. All objects were under constant radar control.
For security reasons, the Polish authorities temporarily closed part of the airspace over the Podlaskie Voivodeship to civil aviation. After the situation stabilised, the restrictions were lifted. The command stressed that the Polish Air Defence Forces are in a state of constant readiness.
Photo: PAP
