Russian aircraft intercepted over Baltic on Friday, Poland says
The planes intercepted and identified the Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft, which then left Polish airspace.
"This is another case of provocative testing of the readiness of NATO countries' systems," the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command wrote on social media platform X.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Western military alliance ramped up its presence along its eastern flank, sending more fighter jets there and setting up ground-based air defences.
The army said a pair of British fighters, stationed in Poland as part of NATO's so-called Air Policing effort, were scrambled before the Polish border was breached. The planes intercepted and identified the plane, and the incident is being analysed by the appropriate NATO commands, the army said. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's Merz says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz visits the town of Irpin, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, outside Kyiv, Ukraine May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko BERLIN - The U.S. is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday, a day after a summit in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is due to meet Trump on Monday in Washington, after which a three-way meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelenskiy should be held as soon as possible with the aim of reaching a peace agreement, Merz said. "If that works out, it's worth more than a ceasefire," he said. Merz said Trump had indicated that Russia seemed ready to negotiate based on the front lines of the conflict, rather than the borders of Ukrainian regions it claims. "This is a huge difference because Russia is claiming territories that it hasn't occupied yet," he said. Speaking separately to German broadcaster n-tv, Merz said he did not think Zelenskiy would face as difficult a time in Washington with Trump as he had in February, when the two leaders clashed in an extraordinary exchange before the world's media at the White House. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Merz said Zelenskiy would on Sunday talk to European leaders who would help him prepare for the meeting. "We'll give a few good pieces of advice," he said. Merz told ZDF that while it was important that Europe stand united, the U.S. would for the time being continue to play the decisive role in the war, which has raged since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. "The American president has the power both militarily and via appropriate sanctions and tariffs to ensure that Russia moves more than it currently does," he said. REUTERS

Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
French embassy employee arrested in Mali on "unfounded" accusations, says French foreign office
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PARIS - A French man arrested in Mali is a member of the French embassy in the capital Bamako and accusations against him are "unfounded", the French foreign office said in a statement to Reuters on Saturday. The embassy worker, named as Yann Vezilier by the Malian government in a statement on Thursday, was arrested in recent weeks alongside two generals and other military personnel and accused of participating in an alleged plot to destabilise the West African nation. "Dialogue is underway to clear up any misunderstanding," the ministry statement said. It added that his arrest was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. France's once close relationship with its former colonies in West Africa's Sahel region has soured in recent years since a series of military coups overthrew governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. REUTERS

Straits Times
44 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Russia launched 85 drones, one missile on Ukraine at overnight: Kyiv
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox People checking out a destroyed Russian combat drone at an outdoor exhibition in central Kyiv. KYIV - Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv said on Aug 16, hours after Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held their Alaska talks. The highly anticipated meeting in the remote US state ended with no breakthrough in halting Russia's more than three-year-long Ukraine invasion. Ukraine's air force said Moscow had 'attacked with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 85 Shahed-type' drones, while also attacking 'front-line areas' in four regions. In its daily report, the air force said the attacks took place 'on the night of Aug 16' and starting in the evening of Aug 15 – when Mr Putin and Mr Trump held their negotiations. Kyiv said its air defences shot down 61 of the drones. Moscow also claimed advances in the east of the country, continuing its on-the-ground attacks and advances during the talks. Russia's defence ministry said troops captured the village of Kolodyazi in the eastern Donetsk region. It also claimed to have taken the village of Vorone in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region – although Ukrainian-linked monitoring websites showed Russian troops still far from the village. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Singapore 3 truck drivers injured after chain collision on ECP, including one rescued with hydraulic tools Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Russia has pushed into Ukrainian territory for almost 3.5 years, occupying large swathes of the east and south of the country. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched by Putin in February 2022, has killed thousands. AFP