Poland’s defence minister stated Russian plane was ‘escorted’ from space and didn’t pose quick safety risk.
Printed On 26 Dec 2025
Poland stated its air power intercepted a “Russian reconnaissance plane” flying close to the border of its airspace simply hours after monitoring suspected smuggling balloons coming from the route of neighbouring Belarus.
“This morning, over the worldwide waters of the Baltic Sea, Polish fighter jets intercepted, visually recognized, and escorted a Russian reconnaissance plane flying close to the border of Polish airspace from their space of accountability,” the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces stated in a publish on X on Thursday.
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Polish forces additionally tracked unknown “objects” flying within the route of Poland from Belarus in the course of the earlier evening, prompting Warsaw to briefly shut civilian airspace within the northeast of the nation.
“After detailed evaluation, it was decided that these have been more than likely smuggling balloons, shifting within the route and on the pace of the wind. Their flight was constantly monitored by our radar techniques,” Operational Command stated.
The publish didn’t disclose any additional particulars in regards to the quantity or dimension of the balloons.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on X that the incidents didn’t pose a right away risk to Poland’s safety, and he thanked the “practically 20,000 of our troopers who, in the course of the Holidays, watch over our security”.
“All provocations over the Baltic Sea and close to the border with Belarus have been underneath the total management of the Polish Military,” he stated.
Translation: One other busy evening for the operational companies of the Polish Military. All provocations, each over the Baltic Sea and over the border with Belarus, have been underneath full management. I thank practically 20,000 of our troopers who, in the course of the Holidays, watch over our security – and as might be seen – achieve this extraordinarily successfully.
The Belarusian and Russian embassies in Warsaw didn’t instantly reply to the Reuters information company’s requests for remark.
Smuggler balloons from Belarus have repeatedly disrupted air visitors in neighbouring Lithuania, forcing airport closures. Lithuania says the balloons are despatched by smugglers transporting cigarettes and represent a “hybrid assault” by Belarus, a detailed ally of Russia. Belarus has denied accountability for the balloons.
The newest air alerts in Poland got here three months after Poland and NATO forces shot down greater than a dozen Russian drones as they flew over Polish airspace between September 9 and 10.
The occasion was the most important incursion of its type on Polish airspace since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Following the incident, NATO-member Poland referred to as an emergency session of the United Nations Safety Council to debate the “blatant violation of the UN Constitution ideas and the customary legislation”.
Polish Overseas Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated on the time that Russia was testing how shortly NATO international locations may reply to threats.
