Poland Scrambles F-16s After Russian Missile Enters Airspace

The Government of Poland scrambled two F-16 fighter jets on July 31, 2026, to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft was flying approximately 40 kilometers north of Kołobrzeg without a flight plan and with its transponder deactivated. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that while the aircraft remained in international airspace and did not violate Polish borders, the Polish Armed Forces continued to monitor the situation in cooperation with NATO allies.

This interception follows a more severe security breach earlier in the week when a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile entered Polish airspace during a Russian strike on Ukraine. The missile crashed in the Lublin region, leaving a crater. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the identity of the missile and stated that Poland was prepared to shoot it down had it continued its flight path. These events have heightened alerts regarding the security of Polish airspace.