AdvertisementAdvertisementRomanian Air Force F-16 military fighter jets escort a C-27J Spartan aircraft during a NATO Air Policing exercise above eastern Romania, on March 6, 2024. (Photo: AP/Andreea Alexandru, File)26 Dec 2025 03:54AM (Updated: 26 Dec 2025 03:55AM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST WARSAW: Poland scrambled fighter jets on Thursday (Dec 25) to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea, while also reporting that dozens of objects crossed into Polish airspace overnight from neighbouring Belarus.The Polish armed forces said the Russian aircraft was intercepted over international waters, visually identified and escorted away from Poland’s area of responsibility, adding that the incident occurred close to the country’s airspace boundary.The developments come during the Christmas holiday period, with Polish authorities warning the timing and scale of the incidents could point to a deliberate provocation.POLAND WARNS OF POSSIBLE PROVOCATIONPoland’s National Security Bureau said several dozen objects entered Polish airspace from the Belarusian side overnight, with four identified so far as likely smuggling balloons.“The mass nature of the violation of Polish airspace, its occurrence during the special holiday season, the assessment of the Russian aircraft’s activity in the Baltic Sea, and the fact that similar incidents have recently occurred in Lithuania, may indicate that this was a provocation disguised as a smuggling operation,” the bureau said in a statement.Countries on NATO’s eastern flank have been on heightened alert over potential airspace incursions since September, when three Russian military jets violated Estonia’s airspace for about 12 minutes, shortly after more than 20 Russian drones were detected entering Polish airspace.Ukraine fires Storm Shadow missiles, drones at Russian oil and gas facilitiesChina says US arms sales to Taiwan 'speeding up threat of war'Zelenskyy reveals US-Ukraine plan to end Russian war, key questions remainSMUGGLING BALLOONS AND REGIONAL TENSIONSSmuggling balloons launched from Belarus have repeatedly disrupted air traffic in neighbouring Lithuania, at times forcing temporary airport closures in Vilnius.Lithuanian authorities say the balloons are used by smugglers transporting cigarettes and describe them as part of a “hybrid attack” by Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Belarus has denied responsibility.The Polish military said part of the airspace over the northeastern Podlaskie region, which borders Belarus, was temporarily closed to civilian aviation to ensure security.The Belarusian and Russian embassies in Warsaw did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.Source: Reuters/fsSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST