Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu (RIA Novosti / Igor Russak)

Poland Closes Airspace To Russian Defense Minister's Plane, Demands 'Non-Military' Flight Status -- RT

Poland has allowed the plane of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu to fly over its territory, after the plane changed its status from military to civilian. Earlier the country barred its airspace to the plane.

The Russian defense minister’s plane has left Bratislava’s airport, according to the Slovak Interior Ministry, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The plane has received permission to fly over Poland after “the pilot has already provided the plan of the civilian flight,” the press secretary of the Armed Forces Operational Command (DORSZ) told the Itar-Tass news agency.

Poland stated that the flyover was refused due to the plane’s changed status: it was changed from civil to military for unknown reasons, according to the spokesman for Poland's state air navigation services agency, PAZP, as cited by Reuters.

Read more ....

My Comment: Poland is claiming that "politics" was not involved in making the decision to ban the Russian Defense Minister's plane from flying over Poland .... Poland claims no political underpinning in incident with Russian minister’s jet (ITAR-TASS). Moscow is not convinced, promising to retaliate .... Moscow warns of reprisal over Poland’s ‘outrageous’ airspace closure for Russian Defense Minister’s jet (RT). What's my take .... this is all politics, and there are going to be consequences for these actions.

Update #1: Russian defence minister’s plane back to Moscow after Poland opens air space -- ITAR-TASS
Update #2: Russian Defense Minister's Plane Lands in Moscow -- RT