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News & Current Events Apr 12, 2026 at 1:33 PM

Poland intercepts Russian Il-20 spy plane for 2nd time in a week

Posted by Big_Explorer1852

Poland intercepts Russian Il-20 spy plane for 2nd time in a week
The Kyiv Independent
Poland intercepts Russian Il-20 spy plane for 2nd time in a week
Polish F-16s intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft during a patrol over the Baltic Sea on April 9, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on X.
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aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Apr 12, 2026 +351
For the "WHY DIDN'T THEY SHOOT IT DOWN" horde, here's a lesson in reading "intercept" headlines: * If the headline doesn't explicitly mention a violation of national/sovereign airspace, it almost certainly happened in international airspace and they omitted that fact from the headline because then you wouldn't click it. * If the headline mentions an Air Defense Identification Zone or similar, it happened in international airspace. The ADIZ typically spans well past the actual sovereign airspace, in the case of Taiwan it spans *over mainland China* (although "violations" are usually only reported once the planes cross the median line, which is still international airspace). * If the headline claims a violation of airspace, it's worth a closer look, but there's still a good chance the journalist confused national airspace with an ADIZ or similar, either due to incompetence or to get you to click. From the article, emphasis on the parts that give you hints or outright tell you what happened: > ... during a patrol **over the Baltic Sea** on April 9, ... > The aircraft was flying **in international airspace** without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off --> They were being dicks and provoking, but within their rights and there was no justification to shoot it down. Western countries do the same, with planes *and* ships, sometimes just to assert that international laws still apply and ships/planes are allowed to go where they are going. Actual airspace violations do happen but they are quite rare. Stuff like this, on the other hand, is extremely common.
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michal_hanu_la Apr 12, 2026 +42
Thank you for being the voice of basic sanity.
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justlurkshere Apr 13, 2026 +1
Sir, this is a Wendy's (and/or Listnook).
1
weregunnalose Apr 13, 2026 +11
While I respect your sane take, I am rather insane, and I say shoot it down anyway
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softlittlepaws Apr 13, 2026 +4
Insane in the membrane!
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ManagerOfLove Apr 12, 2026 +10
At least one sane person
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AristodemusMessalla Apr 13, 2026 +2
Thank you for the explanation. I hate that, with titles and articles today, I have to have that paranoid approach to see if they were super cunning in using words and were tricking me into misunderstanding what was going on. I'm here to inform myself and you're there to inform people. Why are you subtly lying to me so we have a layer of distrust between us now?
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[deleted] Apr 12, 2026 -9
[deleted]
-9
AschAschAsch Apr 12, 2026 +5
You might want to read what else Turkey did after that.
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_BlueFire_ Apr 12, 2026 -1
[ Removed by Listnook ]
-1
Ghe1st Apr 12, 2026 +367
Just shoot it down
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vincedarling Apr 13, 2026 +3
Agree. And Warsaw would be in the right.
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[deleted] Apr 12, 2026 -521
[removed]
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Conscious-Map6957 Apr 12, 2026 +247
Get a load of this guy
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East-Ad-7665 Apr 12, 2026 +104
Poland has arguably the strongest army in Europe besides Ukraine
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RaverSMS Apr 12, 2026 +65
Hes obviously ragebaiting or braindead, I wouldnt engage
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Consistent_Cap_6920 Apr 12, 2026 -162
Strongest army in europe means as much as the best public healthcare program in the US.
-162
Dr_W00t_ Apr 12, 2026 +14
That's a pretty bad example at the moment looking at the current "strategic success" of the American army. I am not sure being the number one army in the world is so relevant when the orders are coming from a bunch of ignorant idiots. 
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ivo200094 Apr 12, 2026 +159
Poland can 1v1 moscovia before their soldiers even sober up
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AschAschAsch Apr 12, 2026 -180
And they aren't doing it out of kindness, I presume? Edit: your comment has the same "we haven't started yet" energy that vatniks use. Edit2: lmao, listnookors of worldnews are pathetic - upvoting baseless "my country can solve half of the current world issues but we are not doing it", but angrily downvoting anyone who doubts it. More downvotes, please. I've heard Poland will finally do the stuff above only after this comment is below -100. Edit3: come on, guys! Only a few downvotes until Poland saves the world. Edit4: yay! We did it. Though I doubt strong Poland will do anything except for some of its online warriors dreaming of 3-hour conquest of Moscow.
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PhysicsKey9092 Apr 12, 2026 +76
Well we wouldn't start a war you goof. But to say Poland's developed military with NATO tech and resources couldn't beat Russia is ridiculous
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AschAschAsch Apr 12, 2026 -96
I'm not saying they can't. I'm asking why they don't do it and make the world a much better place if it's so easy according to the person above?
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Cupdzilla Apr 12, 2026 +49
Why would we waste lives of our citizens unless absolutely necessary? Are you insane?
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AschAschAsch Apr 12, 2026 -64
Then perhaps there's no need to boast that you can easily do it?
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Cupdzilla Apr 12, 2026 +29
Why not ? It is true.
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AschAschAsch Apr 12, 2026 -1
Russia said the same about Ukraine. US said the same about Iran. I'll believe it when I see it. Otherwise it's winning imaginary wars online.
-1
drkTwrCnt Apr 12, 2026 +60
what a good, russian friendly dog you are.
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MagicBoyUK Apr 12, 2026 +30
You know Poland joined NATO in 1999?
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Consistent_Cap_6920 Apr 12, 2026 -73
Uhhh and? So did Estonia, a well known military powerhouse, right guys?
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MagicBoyUK Apr 12, 2026 +14
Estonia with 1/30th the population of Poland. That Estonia?
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batmansthebomb Apr 12, 2026 +19
It's a well known fact that there are only two countries in NATO, Poland and Estonia. That's it.
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Consistent_Cap_6920 Apr 12, 2026 -19
There isn't two countries in NATO, there is just one. The USA. Everyone else is irrelevant.
-19
Imperialbucket Apr 12, 2026 +10
That's why the US has "won the war" in Iran like a dozen times in the last month, right?
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darthdodd Apr 12, 2026 +10
Fuckin moron
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RayTracerX Apr 12, 2026 +16
The sheer ignorance is crazy. Poland is probably the most battle ready army in the world, they have been prepping for a possible invasion with Russia for decades. They lead ton of NATO exercises. They could very probably take on Russia by themselves.
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PhoenixProtocol Apr 12, 2026 +4
Both Poland and Finland are all you need for northern-central European protection.
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Consistent_Cap_6920 Apr 12, 2026 -16
hahahahaha
-16
RayTracerX Apr 12, 2026 +6
They are literally much better than Ukraine in every military metric. Both pre war and now. And Ukraine has held on for 4 years. Whats so funny?
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Consistent_Cap_6920 Apr 12, 2026 -5
Losing half of your population and most of your 16-40 men isn't ''holding on''. It's a catastrophe.
-5
No-Brain9413 Apr 12, 2026 +2
You definitely laughed when told Ukraine could take on Russia - I’m correct there, yeah? How about this.. since it’s clear that you’re very likely a coward, you don’t have to respond. You can just go away.
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Bomber_Max Apr 12, 2026 +14
Consistently capping, I see.
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teh_herper Apr 12, 2026 +4
"They have no nukes, so they should just give up" hmmmmmmmmm where have I heard this before...
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lerpo Apr 12, 2026
Pahahah. What are you talking about 😂
0
totallyRebb Apr 12, 2026 +27
Most of the current bullshit in the world ( even Trump ) can be traced to Russian actions. Imagine a world without a country that constantly has to mess with everyone and everything because thats the only thing that makes them feel good about themselves. ( in b4 "Herpaderp but the US" )
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Electric4ce Apr 12, 2026 -3
The thing with Russia is that the people are great but for a long time in history, bad people have had the power, and they don't give it up. The people would need to rise up against the regime, but they are too scared.
-3
eadgar Apr 12, 2026 +7
At some point the leaders reflect the population.
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TheShipEliza Apr 13, 2026 +2
After the Hungary flip we may see these kinda planes not come back
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LupoWolf2 Apr 12, 2026 +3
Shoot first, ask questions later.
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General-Researcher-2 Apr 12, 2026 -2
A Russian aircraft was flying from Saint Petersburg to Kaliningrad over international waters. Shocking, I can’t believe it, how dare those Russians. But seriously, why is the most upvoted comment ‘shoot it down’? If you want to start a war, why not strike military bases? Why shoot down an unarmed aircraft over neutral waters and then wait for a military response?
-2
FederalGovernmentUS Apr 12, 2026 +1
[ Removed by Listnook ]
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not_just_putin Apr 12, 2026 -13
Still no balls to shoot it down which is only going to encourage russians to escalate. The only thing russians understand is force.
-13
michal_hanu_la Apr 12, 2026 +17
International airspace. Rude, but not a reason to shoot them down.
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F705TY Apr 12, 2026 +3
That's just not true. Russia is losing in Ukraine at the moment. When momentum is on your side, it's best to chill.
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wubbawubba Apr 12, 2026 -1
It seems like it might not be a very good spy plane.
-1
Weird-Hovercraft-689 Apr 12, 2026 -53
So recon planes flying in international airspace is a crime now
-53
nekonight Apr 12, 2026 +18
Reminder that russia tried ramming one unmanned US recon drone down and tried firing on a British manned recon plane in the black sea.
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[deleted] Apr 12, 2026 -21
[deleted]
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SPQR-Tightanus Apr 12, 2026 +17
Why does it suddenly matter whether they are Black Sea countries or not if this was international airspace?
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michal_hanu_la Apr 12, 2026 +5
Note that they called it "provocative", which it is, but not a crime, which it probably is not. (edit: typo)
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Weird-Hovercraft-689 Apr 12, 2026 -8
How is it even provacative, Russians have kaliningrad there, a very important enclave with naval installations. Why wouldn't they run recon flights around it. You guys are not the heroes you think you are lol
-8
michal_hanu_la Apr 12, 2026 +7
I don't think I am a hero. Not sure about the other guys. Generally, flying a military plane near (outside, yes) airspace of countries you consider your enemies (and publicly say so) without ADS-B could be considered somewhat rude.
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Weird-Hovercraft-689 Apr 12, 2026 -8
Its clearly mentioned it was international airspace, you don't own everything. Go watch the vid of CNN journos onboard us recon plane flying near chinese coast and they get radioed by Chinese jets to fk off. Nauseating hypocrisy
-8
michal_hanu_la Apr 12, 2026 +3
And you will notice me saying in an other comment that it is not a crime and also that it was international airspace. Can you please explain the position you are arguing? Are you arguing that someone says it was a crime (they didn't) and it isn't (it isn't indeed)? Are you arguing that sending jets to meet them is wrong (it is not)? What are you arguing, exactly? > you don't own everything What do you mean, _you_? I do not work for the Polish Air Force (though I have flown in Poland a bit in Poland a bit). Edit: About those CNN video, which airspace were they in? Did they have their transponder on? These details matter.
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Sad_Ghost_Noises Apr 12, 2026 -2
Third time and Poland get to keep it.
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