Latest news with #RMF24
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Polish jets intercept Russian bomber over Baltic Sea after 'dangerous' maneuvers
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on May 22, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press conference on May 23, according to the Polish news outlet RMF24. The incident marks the latest in a series of Russian provocations near NATO territory. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Russian aircraft posed a threat to regional airspace safety. "These maneuvers performed by the Russian Su-24 show that the actions were dangerous and intentional," the minister said. He added that Polish pilots quickly detected, intercepted, and forced the bomber to withdraw from the area. The encounter took place near the heavily militarized Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania. Russian aircraft often fly from Kaliningrad without using transponders, failing to file flight plans, and not establishing contact with regional air traffic control — a pattern that NATO officials have long described as high-risk behavior. "We are resistant to provocations, but we react appropriately, individually and collectively," Kosiniak-Kamysz said, referring to NATO's air policing measures. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us The intercepted aircraft, a Soviet-designed Su-24 bomber, is capable of carrying guided bombs and precision missiles and was developed for low-level penetration missions. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has scrambled fighter jets multiple times in response to missile and drone attacks near its border. On several occasions, Russian projectiles have briefly entered Polish airspace, prompting strong protests from Warsaw and increased NATO monitoring in the region. On Feb. 11, a Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft flew into Polish airspace over the Gdansk Bay for over a minute. Moscow blamed a navigational failure, though Polish officials have dismissed similar explanations in the past as implausible. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and hosts significant NATO infrastructure, has warned that Russian aerial provocations could trigger escalation if not contained. Read also: Ukraine confirms strike on Russian factory making parts for Iskander ballistic missiles, glide bombs We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Polish troops show part of fortifications on border with Russia
Polish troops have shown a section of engineering fortifications on the Polish-Russian border, constructed under the East Shield programme. Source Polish news portal RMF24, as reported by European Pravda Details: Photos show the fortifications in the village of Rutka, located in Gmina Barciany, administrative district in Kętrzyn County. They are being built as part of East Shield – Poland's national deterrence and defence programme. At the event, Lieutenant General Stanisław Czosnek, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, emphasised that Poland, as a self-respecting country, has its own defence preparedness plans. Fortifications on the Polish-Russian border. Photo: Polish Press Agency Quote from Czosnek: "The security environment in our region has significantly deteriorated. We are in a state of hybrid war, and we are acting in advance. We started defensive measures much earlier (...). The expansion of the East Shield along the border with Russia is taking place in Rutka, but we are doing the same along the border with Belarus and in the area near Ukraine." Details: He underlined that the engineering fortifications are the most visible element, but "the East Shield programme is multi-layered". Czosnek explained that the programme includes reconnaissance, early warning systems, chemical protection, logistics systems, military defence, mobility and countermobility and adapting medical infrastructure to the needs of the armed forces in the region. The military personnel are cooperating with all government institutions and local authorities, as well as the ministries of agriculture, infrastructure and digital affairs. Czosnek also stated that the troops do not expropriate private property when planning such investments. Quote from Czosnek: "There were a lot of concerns about land acquisition. We have been working here for a year. There are no expropriations. The troops use state treasury lands, military facilities or property belonging to local authorities. There is not a single case where private property has been affected." Details: Major General Marek Wawrzyniak, Head of the Military Engineering Directorate, also took part in the event near the Russian border. Quote from Wawrzyniak: "We are aware that any fortification is merely an obstacle if not secured, so firing positions, shelters for soldiers and firing points for equipment are being built here. When planning, we rely on experience gained in Ukraine and other operations. This location is a good example of how engineering obstacles should be positioned in the field. On one side, there is forest, and on the other – swampy terrain, which provides an anti-mobility advantage." Details: He noted that under the planning and construction of the East Shield, the troops have acquired land in 30 settlements, where work is already under way. Reconnaissance has been conducted in over 70 settlements and locations. Background: At the end of last year, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the start of construction of the East Shield fortification system along the borders with Russia and Belarus. The decree to establish the national deterrence and defence programme East Shield, with a budget of PLN 10 billion (about US$2.6 billion) for implementation from 2024 to 2028, was adopted by the Polish government on 10 June last year during an off-site meeting in Białystok. Earlier, it was reported that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland would appeal to the European Union for funding to build a network of bunkers, barriers, defensive lines and military depots along the borders with Russia and Belarus. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poland intercepts Russian plane actions of which posed a threat
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on Thursday 22 May. Source: Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said this during a press conference on Friday 23 May, RMF24 quoted, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kosiniak-Kamysz said that on the evening of Thursday 22 May, the Allied Command Operations of NATO forces in Europe ordered another Polish pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 bomber. He said that the Russian aircraft was carrying out dangerous manoeuvres in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. "These actions were deliberate and posed a threat," the minister said. Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that Polish pilots were able to detect, intercept and effectively push back the Russian aircraft. The Polish defence minister also commented on Russia's frequent provocations in the airspace near NATO's borders – especially due to the geographical location of Kaliningrad Oblast, from where Russian aircraft often fly without transponders switched on, without submitting flight plans and without contacting air traffic control. "We are resilient to provocations, but we react decisively, both independently and within the framework of the Alliance," Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed. Background: On 21 May, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that a Russian shadow fleet vessel had made suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. A few days ago, the Estonian Navy attempted to stop the tanker Jaguar, which was passing through international waters in the Gulf of Finland towards the port of Primorsk. The vessel is believed to belong to the Russian shadow fleet. According to available information, the tanker's crew refused to comply with the Estonian border guards' instructions, and the vessel left Estonian territorial waters. In response to the actions of Estonian forces, Russia sent a fighter jet, which, according to Estonia, violated the country's airspace. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Polish PM says he expects "very difficult days" ahead after call with Trump
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has suggested, following a conversation with US President Donald Trump, that "very difficult days" may lie ahead. Source: Polish news portal RMF24, as reported by European Pravda Details: Tusk noted that Russia has demanded that no US representatives be present at the negotiations and described Russia's conditions as unacceptable "not only for Ukraine, but for all of us". He stressed that European politicians will continue working towards peace in Ukraine. Tusk added that the main task will be to maintain unity between Europe and the United States on this issue. "We make no secret of the fact that Russia's position is hard to describe as constructive. There are likely to be very difficult days ahead of us," he said. Background: On 16 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland, held a joint phone conversation with US President Donald Trump. Following the conversation, Zelenskyy stressed that pressure on Russia must be maintained until it is ready to end the war. On 16 May, for the first time in over three years, direct talks were held in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov said the discussions had covered the ceasefire, humanitarian issues, and a potential leader-level meeting. The Russians are reported to have put forward a number of conditions that are unacceptable to Ukraine during the negotiations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Two Ukrainian men found dead in Krakow dormitory, police suspect murder-suicide
Two Ukrainian men were found dead in a Krakow dormitory, in what Polish authorities believe was a murder-suicide, RMF24 reported on May 10. The bodies were discovered by staff in the hotel section of a dormitory on Reymonta Street, according to RMF24. Both men were around 58 years old and were believed to be Ukrainian citizens. 'One of them had been renting a room there long-term and was known to the hotel staff,' said Bartosz Izdebski, a spokesperson for the Malopolska Provincial Police. Preliminary findings suggest that one of the men killed the other before taking his own life. 'After examining the scene, officers concluded that this may have been a so-called extended suicide,' Izdebski said. Police and prosecutors are investigating the case. A forensic examination of the bodies is expected in the coming days to determine the exact cause and circumstances of death. Read also: Ukraine 'ready to meet' Russia for talks after full, lasting ceasefire starting May 12, Zelensky says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
