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NATO fighters identify Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia over the Baltic Sea.

On 5 September 2026, NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters were scrambled to identify a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft travelling from Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast toward mainland Russia. The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence states that the aircraft remained in international airspace throughout the reported flight. The Il-20 was operating without an activated radar transponder and without a filed flight plan, conditions that prompted NATO fighters to identify the aircraft as part of the Alliance’s routine Baltic Air Policing mission. The Russian aircraft nevertheless maintained radio communications with the regional air-traffic control centre.

Occurrence

2026-09-05

Publication

2026-09-05

First observed

2026-10-05T14:29:15.028Z

Review status

Not assessed

Countries

EE, LT, LV

Updated

2026-10-05T16:30:16.433Z