On Thursday evening, Polish fighter jets stationed in Lithuania intercepted a Russian Su-24 aircraft conducting provocative maneuvers over the Baltic Sea. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on Friday that the action was carried out following an order from NATO’s Joint Operational Command.

“The aircraft was located, intercepted, and effectively deterred,” the minister stated, emphasizing NATO’s rapid response capability and Poland’s readiness.

Moscow's Baltic Activity Raises Alarms

“This was not an accident. These were intentional actions,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters, underlining Warsaw’s concern about escalating Russian provocations in the Baltic region. The interception occurred near the strategic Suwałki Gap—often described as NATO’s most vulnerable chokepoint between Poland and the Baltics.

Just days prior, Polish forces reported that a sanctioned Russian tanker had approached the undersea power cable linking Poland and Sweden, prompting a military response. Though the cable was unharmed, the incident underscored the potential risks to critical infrastructure.

Tensions between NATO and Russia continue to mount across the Baltic corridor. The Su-24 flyby and recent maritime activity are seen by analysts as hybrid pressure tactics, part of Russia’s broader strategy to test alliance response times and deterrence credibility.

As NATO bolsters its presence in the region—especially following Finland and Sweden’s accession—such intercepts are becoming more frequent, demanding constant vigilance from frontline allies like Poland and the Baltic states.