Poland says it intercepts Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea

Poland says it intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea on May 13, describing the flight as a provocation and a potential threat. The Polish air force said the aircraft was flying without a filed flight plan and with its transponders switched off, adding that there was no violation of Polish airspace. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said flights without transponders can endanger other aircraft and that Polish pilots would respond immediately. He called the intercept another aggressive action by Russia and a test of Poland’s air defence systems. Earlier, Poland activated ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance after Russian strikes on Ukraine.