NATO country issues 5-word warning after ‘repeated’ airspace breaches by Russian planes

Poland’s Armed Forces have accused Russian military aircraft of posing “a threat to aviation safety” after Polish fighters repeatedly intercepted Kremlin planes flying without transponders over the Baltic Sea. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on Sunday: “Polish on-duty pairs of F-16 and MiG-29 have repeatedly intercepted Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea, operating without flight plans and with transponders turned off, which posed a threat to aviation safety.”

The command stressed: “There was never a violation of Polish airspace. In accordance with NATO procedures, Polish pilots efficiently conducted visual identification and escorted foreign aircraft out of the area of responsibility.”

The statement, accompanied by photographs of a Russian Il-38 “May” maritime patrol aircraft, marks the clearest public condemnation yet from Warsaw of Moscow’s aerial activity near NATO territory. Defence officials highlighted the five-word phrase “a threat to aviation safety” as a deliberate signal of growing impatience.

The intercepts are the latest in a string of tense encounters along NATO’s eastern flank since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

NATO was once again been forced into action after four Russian fighter jets sparked an urgent response near the border with Poland over the weekend. The MiG-31 aircraft flew towards Russia's western border, Bild am Sonntag reported, citing NATO sources. Poland and Germany both placed their air defence systems on high alert.

Baltic Air Policing missions have recorded a significant increase in Russian military flights, many of which originate from Kaliningrad or mainland Russia.

Poland remains on high alert after previous incidents, including the deadly explosion in Przewodow in November 2022 caused by a Ukrainian air-defence missile, and brief Russian cruise-missile incursions into Polish airspace in December 2023 and March 2024 during attacks on western Ukraine.

Those events prompted emergency scrambles and renewed calls from Warsaw for permanent allied fighter deployments.

The command emphasised: “The air defence of the Republic of Poland is a system of permanent, 24/7 duty shifts, fully integrated with NATO’s air defence system.”

It continued: “The integrated air defence system of the Republic of Poland, operating in 24/7 mode, effectively strengthens deterrence and actually protects Polish airspace.”

NATO’s Baltic Air Policing detachment, currently led by Germany with aircraft based in Estonia and Poland, has maintained round-the-clock readiness since 2004, with rotations stepped up after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has yet to respond to the Polish allegations. Moscow routinely insists its flights comply with international rules and that transponders may be deactivated during training.

With Russia’s war in Ukraine approaching its fourth year, the skies above the Baltic remain one of Europe’s most closely watched – and potentially volatile – frontiers.