Polish jets intercept Russian reconnaissance plane spotted near airspace

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Erin HaleDecember 26, 2025 at 04:41 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

On December 26, 2025, Polish fighter jets intercepted and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland's airspace over the Baltic Sea. Earlier, Polish forces tracked unidentified objects, suspected to be smuggling balloons from Belarus, leading to a temporary closure of civilian airspace in northeastern Poland. According to the Polish Operational Command, the balloons' flight was monitored by radar systems. Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that neither incident posed an immediate threat to Poland's security and that all provocations were under control. Neither the Belarusian nor Russian embassies in Warsaw have commented on the incidents.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% Polish Army ×250% Baltic Sea ×260% Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz 60% Belarus ×470% Polish Armed Forces 70% Russia ×380% Poland ×890%

Keywords

reconnaissance aircraft 90% polish airspace 80% smuggling balloons 70% airspace violation 70% baltic sea 60% belarus border 60% national security 50% military interception 50%