On Friday, October 31, 2025, the Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) announced on social media the third interception this week over the Baltic Sea by a pair of MiG-29s of a Russian Il-20M imagery and electronic reconnaissance aircraft.
Photo: Polish Armed Forces Operational Command
“Third Interception Mission of a Russian Aircraft over the Baltic This Week
Today, October 31, before 9:00 a.m., a pair of MiG-29 fighter jets on quick reaction alert were once again scrambled to intercept a reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Federation 🇷🇺 — an Il-20 — flying over the Baltic Sea.
The Russian aircraft was again operating without a filed flight plan and with its transponder switched off, posing a potential threat to air traffic safety in the region. Polish pilots intercepted and identified the foreign aircraft, which was then escorted in accordance with NATO procedures. There was no violation of Polish airspace.
This is already the third such incident this week, confirming the growing activity of Russian aviation in the Baltic region.
The Polish Armed Forces remain in full combat readiness and continue to respond effectively to all provocative actions of the Russian Federation, acting in close cooperation with NATO allies.
We thank the Polish Air Force for their professionalism, vigilance, and exemplary execution of their mission, once again demonstrating a high level of training and determination in defending the security of the Republic of Poland.”
Armed Forces Operational Command
The first interception took place on Wednesday, followed by another on Thursday. Once again, the same Il-20M aircraft with registration number RF-95671 was involved. Over the past several months, this particular aircraft has been intercepted numerous times over the Baltic Sea by allied aircraft from Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and France.
Previous interceptions by the Polish Air Force, involving F-16 Jastrząb fighters and a different Il-20M with registration number RF-93611, occurred on August 12, 2024, as well as on March 3 and 6, 2024, by MiG-29s and F-16s.
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 (IMINT), communications intelligence (COMINT), and electronic intelligence (ELINT), i.e., intercepting electromagnetic signal emissions. It is equipped with a wide range of optoelectronic sensors, A-87P LOROP, Romb 4, and Vishnya as well as a side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) with a phased-array antenna, the Igla-1, and satellite communications systems for real-time data transfer. The Il-20M prototype made its first flight in March 1968. A total of 20 aircraft were built, of which 14 remain in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
On September 17, 2018, another Russian Il-20M was accidentally shot down with 15 crew members on board by Syrian air defense forces during an Israeli missile strike on targets in Syria (Il-20M shot down off the coast of Syria). Earlier, on April 13, 2014, a Russian Il-20M approached Turkish airspace over the Black Sea and was intercepted by four F-16s, while on October 22, 2014, one of the aircraft violated Estonian airspace.
Trzecia w tym tygodniu misja przechwycenia rosyjskiego samolotu nad Bałtykiem❗️
Dziś, 31 października przed godziną 9.00, para dyżurna samolotów MiG-29 🇵🇱 kolejny raz została poderwana w celu przechwycenia samolotu rozpoznawczego Federacji Rosyjskiej 🇷🇺 Ił-20 wykonującego lot… pic.twitter.com/brM5GwreFO
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) October 31, 2025