On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) reported on social media that Polish aircraft had intercepted a Russian Il-20M imagery and signals intelligence aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Photo: Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz via X
“Our aircraft intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea. This is another example of aggressive action by the Russian Federation and of it testing our air defense systems. Flights with transponders switched off may pose a threat to others.”
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
“The security of airspace remains one of the priorities of the Polish Armed Forces. Every day, soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces maintain readiness for immediate response, ensuring effective protection of Polish skies.
The aircraft was flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with its transponders switched off. There was no violation of Polish airspace.
Thanks to their high level of training and operational readiness, soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces remain prepared to act immediately in any situation.”
Armed Forces Operational Command
There are no details as to whether the Russian aircraft was intercepted by an F-16 Jastrząb or MiG-29 quick reaction alert pair. According to the published photograph, it was an aircraft with registration number RF-95671. Earlier, on April 24, a pair of F-16s intercepted two Russian Su-30 multirole aircraft (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) over the Baltic Sea.
On April 9, another Il-20M was intercepted, also by F-16 Jastrząb fighters, while on March 16 one was intercepted by MiG-29s.
Previous interceptions of Russian Il-20M aircraft took place three times on October 29, 30 and 31, 2025, and three times in 2024: by an F-16 Jastrząb on August 12, and by MiG-29 and F-16 aircraft on March 3 and 6.
The Il-20M (NATO reporting name: Coot-A) is a specialized version of the Il-18 aircraft, hence its alternative designation Il-18D-36 Bizon, designed for imagery intelligence, communications intelligence (COMINT) and electronic intelligence (ELINT), i.e. the interception of electromagnetic signal emissions. It is equipped with a wide range of A-87P LOROP, Romb-4 and Vishnya electro-optical sensors, as well as an Igla-1 phased-array side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) and satellite communications systems for real-time information transfer. The Il-20M prototype first flew in March 1968. A total of 20 aircraft were produced, of which 14 remain in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
Bezpieczeństwo przestrzeni powietrznej pozostaje jednym z priorytetów #WojskoPolskie 🇵🇱. Każdego dnia żołnierze Sił Zbrojnych RP utrzymują gotowość do natychmiastowej reakcji, zapewniając skuteczną ochronę polskiego nieba.
Maszyna wykonywała lot w międzynarodowej przestrzeni… https://t.co/PJXXwQXojN
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) May 13, 2026