Warsaw, Poland – December 26, 2025 – Polish Air Force jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near the border of Polish airspace on Thursday morning, hours after monitoring suspected smuggling balloons coming from neighboring Belarus.

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed on X that fighter jets visually identified and escorted the Russian aircraft over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, ensuring it did not enter Poland’s sovereign airspace. Officials emphasized that the incident posed no immediate threat to national security.

Smuggling Balloons Trigger Northeast Airspace Closure

Earlier in the night, Polish radar systems detected unknown airborne objects approaching from Belarus, prompting temporary closure of civilian airspace in northeastern Poland. After analysis, authorities determined the objects were most likely smuggling balloons, moving with the wind. The Polish military did not provide further details on their number or size.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked the country’s 20,000-strong armed forces for maintaining security during the holiday period, highlighting that all provocations over the Baltic Sea and the Belarus border were “under full control of the Polish Army.”

Context: Hybrid Threats and NATO Response

Smuggling balloons from Belarus have previously disrupted air traffic in neighboring Lithuania, forcing airport closures. Lithuanian officials have described these balloons as part of a “hybrid attack” used to transport cigarettes, though Belarus denies responsibility.

The recent Russian aircraft sighting follows a tense period in September when Poland and NATO forces shot down over a dozen Russian drones attempting incursions into Polish airspace. That incident marked the largest breach of Polish airspace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and prompted Poland to call an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski previously warned that the Russian incursions were designed to test NATO’s response times and readiness.

Regional Security Implications

The latest interception underscores ongoing tensions in the Baltic region, where NATO members remain vigilant against potential threats from Russia and its allies. Poland’s coordinated response with NATO air policing demonstrates the alliance’s readiness to maintain airspace integrity, while also monitoring hybrid threats from smuggling operations and reconnaissance activity near its borders.

The Belarusian and Russian embassies in Warsaw have not responded to requests for comment.