On Thursday, two Swedish fighter jets operating under NATO command were sent to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that was nearing Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea, according to the Swedish armed forces.

“The aircraft was approaching Polish airspace, so we took to the skies to signal our presence, visually identify it, and escort it away,” stated Therese Akerstedt, a spokesperson for the Swedish Air Force, in comments to AFP.

The Swedish jets, which are based in Malbork, Poland, identified the aircraft as a Russian IL-20. This interception took place in international airspace, as reported by the Swedish military.

Sweden officially joined NATO in March 2024.

Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tensions in the Baltic region have intensified.