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Intercepts near NATO borders
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft during the morning of August 4, with the Russian aircraft spotted 56 kilometers northwest of Koszalin in Poland's West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
“on the morning of August 4”
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the incident was another provocation near NATO borders, adding that Russia was "once again engaging in provocative actions near NATO borders, testing the vigilance and readiness of the Alliance's defense systems."
RBC-Ukraine also cited earlier similar encounters, including a Russian Il-20 electronic intelligence aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea on July 31 without a flight plan and with its transponder turned off.
The Latest news from Azerbaijan reported that the August 4 interception marked the second such incident involving a Russian military aircraft in two days, after a previous interception of another Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Polish Defence Ministry spokesman Janusz Sejmej said the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter Polish territory, according to TVP World.
Warsaw frames it as provocation
Kosiniak-Kamysz framed the repeated flights as testing NATO readiness, saying "Russia is once again conducting activities of a provocative nature near the borders of NATO member states, testing the vigilance and readiness of the alliance’s defense systems."
The Censor.NET report described the August 4 incident as the second time in two days that Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft near NATO airspace.
Censor.NET said the Russian Il-20 was intercepted 56 kilometers northwest of the city of Koszalin in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, and it reiterated that Warsaw described Russia’s actions as an attempt to test the Alliance’s readiness.
La Razón reported that on Tuesday there was another interception of a Russian Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft, described by Kosiniak-Kamysz as "this time, two of our aircraft intercepted the Russian Federation's reconnaissance aircraft 56 kilometers northwest of Koszalin".
La Razón also quoted Janusz Sejmej saying the Russian aircraft did not violate Polish airspace and that "these procedures are routine when there is an inability to communicate with unidentified aircraft near its borders," because the Il-20M did not have its transponder connected.
Routine scrambles and rising fears
Ukrinform reported that Kosiniak-Kamysz stated a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted over the Baltic Sea on Monday by a pair of Polish fighter jets on duty, with the incident occurring on Monday morning approximately 60 kilometers from the Polish city of Leba.
“approximately 60 kilometers from the Polish city of Leba”
Ukrinform said Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the aircraft did not violate “The aircraft was flying in international airspace without a flight plan and with its transponder turned off,” and that the Polish military constantly monitors security and takes appropriate measures when necessary.
La Razón placed the August 4 interception in a wider sequence, saying it was the third such incident in five days, and it described earlier interceptions on the Polish Baltic coast on Friday and on the day before.
DIE WELT reported that concerns about a new wave of Russian provocations in the Baltic Sea were growing, noting that within a few days the Polish Air Force had intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea for the third time.
DIE WELT also said that in Poland and the Baltic states there are fears Russia could provoke NATO states more frequently with reconnaissance flights, and it linked those fears to "Russia, due to its problems in the war in Ukraine".