Latest news with #Il-20
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
NATO jets scrambled to intercept Russian spyplane as Kremlin threatens ‘direct' response to military buildup on border
GERMAN fighter jets were dramatically scrambled to intercept a Russian spy plane over the Baltic Sea. It came just hours before the Kremlin warned of a 'direct' response to NATO's growing presence on its doorstep. 8 German fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian Il-20 spy plane over the Baltic Sea (stock picture) Credit: AP:Associated Press 8 It came after Putin's Kremlin threatened a 'direct' response to military buildup on border Credit: Getty 8 Two Eurofighters (stock picture) roared into action after NATO radar spotted the Russian spy plane Credit: PA 8 Two Eurofighters roared into action on Friday after NATO radar spotted a Russian Il-20 with its transponder switched off. The plane had taken off from Kaliningrad and was heading west toward Poland and Germany, according to Bild and Germany's quick reaction team made visual contact about 100km off the coast. They snapped a photo before the lumbering Russian aircraft turned north, skirting just 40km from the Baltic island of Usedom but staying out of German airspace. Read more world news It's the ninth time this year German jets have been scrambled to shadow Moscow's snoopers. NATO says the Kremlin is using these flights to test alliance defences and gather intel on troop positions as the Ukraine war drags on. The airborne drama came as Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov slammed Estonia's willingness to host NATO aircraft armed with nuclear weapons, branding it a 'direct' danger to Moscow. 'Directly, of course,' he said, when asked if such a move posed a threat, Russian news agency Most read in The US Sun Peskov sneered that Baltic leaders often make 'absurd' statements, and added icy relations could scarcely get any worse: 'It is very difficult to do anything worse.' Humiliation for Putin as £37m jets destroyed in strike before vengeful tyrant kills two in blitz on Ukraine tower block Tallinn's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur had earlier revealed Estonia is ready to welcome NATO jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear bombs — pointing to recent visits by US F-35s that could soon be guarding the tiny nation's skies again. It comes amid mounting alarm that Vladimir Putin is readying Russia for a showdown with NATO itself. Bruno Kahl, head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, NATO chief Mark Rutte piled on the pressure, saying the alliance must brace for the possibility of a Russian attack by 2030. Putin's forces have already begun amassing hardware and troops close to Finland, just 35 miles from the border, according to satellite snaps showing activity at four Russian bases — Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2 and Olenya. Defence experts fear Moscow may attempt to provoke NATO into a limited clash, testing the alliance's Article 5 pledge of mutual defence without triggering full-scale war. Meanwhile on the battlefield, Putin's summer push in Ukraine is grinding on at a snail's pace, with Kyiv's fierce drone attacks bogging down Russian advances. After 448 days of fighting in Chasiv Yar in Donetsk, Moscow's troops reportedly control just half the city — clawing back land at a rate so slow that even snails would outpace them. But with an estimated 125,000 Russian soldiers massing along Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv borders, Kyiv is bracing for what could be Putin's last big gamble to seize ground before negotiating a ceasefire. Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said his forces had managed to pin down a 50,000-strong Russian assault near Sumy, stabilising the lines for now. 8 Bruno Kahl, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, said his team have intel suggesting Russia is plotting to test the resolve of Nato in the coming years Credit: Alamy 8 A Russian drone strike on Kyiv overnight left dozens of residential buildings crumbling Credit: AP 8 Ukraine is often left battling Putin's continued drone attacks Credit: Getty Back in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz poured more cold water on any thaw with Moscow, telling Süddeutsche Zeitung he won't pick up the phone to Putin given Russia's relentless bombing of Ukraine. His predecessor Olaf Scholz had broken ranks last year by speaking with the Kremlin tyrant — but Merz insisted the time for friendly calls is over. As Putin's bombers continue to pound Kyiv and Odesa with hundreds of drones and missiles every night, NATO eyes remain fixed on the Baltic and beyond — wary that Moscow's next gambit could spark the very clash the world fears most. It comes after Ukraine landed another humiliating blow on Vlad's war machine — Kyiv's forces targeted the Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region, flying drones 200 miles to smash four of the £37million jets. Two were destroyed outright, while the other pair were damaged, sending pro-war Russian Telegram channels into meltdown over the 'multi-billion dollar' losses. Furious Kremlin cheerleaders raged the attack 'could and should have been prevented.' Ukraine's SBU boasted the strike sparked a fire in critical infrastructure used to prep and repair Russian warplanes. Putin lashed out in brutal revenge. Overnight, Russia flattened a 21-storey tower block in Odesa, killing a married couple and wounding at least 14 others — including three children. 8
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
NATO jets scrambled to intercept Russian spyplane as Kremlin threatens ‘direct' response to military buildup on border
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GERMAN fighter jets were dramatically scrambled to intercept a Russian spy plane over the Baltic Sea. It came just hours before the Kremlin warned of a 'direct' response to NATO's growing presence on its doorstep. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 German fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian Il-20 spy plane over the Baltic Sea (stock picture) Credit: AP:Associated Press 8 It came after Putin's Kremlin threatened a 'direct' response to military buildup on border Credit: Getty 8 Two Eurofighters (stock picture) roared into action after NATO radar spotted the Russian spy plane Credit: PA 8 Two Eurofighters roared into action on Friday after NATO radar spotted a Russian Il-20 with its transponder switched off. The plane had taken off from Kaliningrad and was heading west toward Poland and Germany, according to Bild and The Kyiv Independent. Germany's quick reaction team made visual contact about 100km off the coast. They snapped a photo before the lumbering Russian aircraft turned north, skirting just 40km from the Baltic island of Usedom but staying out of German airspace. It's the ninth time this year German jets have been scrambled to shadow Moscow's snoopers. NATO says the Kremlin is using these flights to test alliance defences and gather intel on troop positions as the Ukraine war drags on. The airborne drama came as Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov slammed Estonia's willingness to host NATO aircraft armed with nuclear weapons, branding it a 'direct' danger to Moscow. 'Directly, of course,' he said, when asked if such a move posed a threat, Russian news agency TASS reported. Peskov sneered that Baltic leaders often make 'absurd' statements, and added icy relations could scarcely get any worse: 'It is very difficult to do anything worse.' Humiliation for Putin as £37m jets destroyed in strike before vengeful tyrant kills two in blitz on Ukraine tower block Tallinn's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur had earlier revealed Estonia is ready to welcome NATO jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear bombs — pointing to recent visits by US F-35s that could soon be guarding the tiny nation's skies again. It comes amid mounting alarm that Vladimir Putin is readying Russia for a showdown with NATO itself. Bruno Kahl, head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, recently warned 'Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward,' adding: 'We have intelligence showing it.' NATO chief Mark Rutte piled on the pressure, saying the alliance must brace for the possibility of a Russian attack by 2030. Putin's forces have already begun amassing hardware and troops close to Finland, just 35 miles from the border, according to satellite snaps showing activity at four Russian bases — Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2 and Olenya. Defence experts fear Moscow may attempt to provoke NATO into a limited clash, testing the alliance's Article 5 pledge of mutual defence without triggering full-scale war. Meanwhile on the battlefield, Putin's summer push in Ukraine is grinding on at a snail's pace, with Kyiv's fierce drone attacks bogging down Russian advances. After 448 days of fighting in Chasiv Yar in Donetsk, Moscow's troops reportedly control just half the city — clawing back land at a rate so slow that even snails would outpace them. But with an estimated 125,000 Russian soldiers massing along Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv borders, Kyiv is bracing for what could be Putin's last big gamble to seize ground before negotiating a ceasefire. Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said his forces had managed to pin down a 50,000-strong Russian assault near Sumy, stabilising the lines for now. 8 Bruno Kahl, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, said his team have intel suggesting Russia is plotting to test the resolve of Nato in the coming years Credit: Alamy 8 A Russian drone strike on Kyiv overnight left dozens of residential buildings crumbling Credit: AP 8 Ukraine is often left battling Putin's continued drone attacks Credit: Getty Back in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz poured more cold water on any thaw with Moscow, telling Süddeutsche Zeitung he won't pick up the phone to Putin given Russia's relentless bombing of Ukraine. His predecessor Olaf Scholz had broken ranks last year by speaking with the Kremlin tyrant — but Merz insisted the time for friendly calls is over. As Putin's bombers continue to pound Kyiv and Odesa with hundreds of drones and missiles every night, NATO eyes remain fixed on the Baltic and beyond — wary that Moscow's next gambit could spark the very clash the world fears most. It comes after Ukraine landed another humiliating blow on Vlad's war machine — blitzing two of Russia's prized Su-34 fighter jets in a daring long-range drone strike. Kyiv's forces targeted the Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region, flying drones 200 miles to smash four of the £37million jets. Two were destroyed outright, while the other pair were damaged, sending pro-war Russian Telegram channels into meltdown over the 'multi-billion dollar' losses. Furious Kremlin cheerleaders raged the attack 'could and should have been prevented.' Ukraine's SBU boasted the strike sparked a fire in critical infrastructure used to prep and repair Russian warplanes. Putin lashed out in brutal revenge. Overnight, Russia flattened a 21-storey tower block in Odesa, killing a married couple and wounding at least 14 others — including three children.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
UK fighter jets intercept Russian spy aircraft over Baltic Sea
The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command has reported that British fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft that violated the airspace over the Baltic Sea on the morning of 13 June. Source: a statement by the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Il-20 entered the airspace over the Baltic Sea at around 10:50 on 13 June and was intercepted by two UK fighter jets stationed in Poland. "This is yet another case of provocative testing of NATO countries' readiness systems," the statement said. The Polish Armed Forces added that the appropriate NATO command has been informed of the incident. Background: On 10 June, Finland's Ministry of Defence reported a suspected violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. On 9 June, two Russian reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted by British fighter jets stationed in Poland. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
British jets intercept Russian spy plane over Baltic Sea, Poland calls it NATO readiness test
British fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft that violated airspace over the Baltic Sea on the morning of June 13, Poland's military command reported. "This is another case of provocative testing of the readiness of NATO countries' systems," the statement said, adding that NATO command structures are now analyzing the incident. The Russian Il-20, based on the Il-18 transport aircraft, is used for electronic surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is equipped with radar and signal intelligence gear designed to collect information on military infrastructure and communication networks. According to the military command, the aircraft entered Baltic Sea airspace at approximately 10:50 a.m. and was promptly intercepted by two British fighter jets operating out of Poland. No further details were disclosed about the exact location of the encounter or how long the Russian aircraft remained in restricted airspace. The incident adds to a series of aerial provocations reported by NATO allies since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Poland has repeatedly scrambled jets in response to Russian missile and drone attacks near its border. On Feb. 11, a Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft flew into Polish airspace over the Bay of Gdansk for more than a minute. Moscow attributed the incursion to a navigational error, but Polish officials dismissed the claim as implausible. Poland shares a long border with Ukraine and a northern coastline along the Baltic Sea, where Russia's militarized Kaliningrad exclave is located. Warsaw has repeatedly warned that Russia's ongoing aerial provocations could lead to a dangerous escalation if not firmly countered. Read also: How an Israel-Iran war could help Russia's economy — and deprive Ukraine of weapons We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russian aircraft intercepted over Baltic on Friday, Poland says
WARSAW - A Russian aircraft was intercepted over the Baltic Sea by two British fighter jets on Friday after it flew two kilometres inside Polish airspace, the Polish armed forces said on Friday. 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.
