Polish F-16s intercepted the Russian Il-20 aircraft about 40 kilometers north of the coastal town of Ustka, the minister said.
The plane did not enter Polish airspace but posed a risk to civilian air traffic because its identification systems were switched off, he added.
Hours later, Kosiniak-Kamysz announced a broader response.
"After the recent Russian provocations and acts of aggression, I have decided to expand the protection of our airspace. We are increasing the activity of our air forces, including F-16 aircraft and helicopters," he wrote on X.
He said the pattern of incidents showed Russian provocations were "taking various forms and posing threats in places that until now were considered safe." The military is also strengthening its rapid-response capabilities nationwide and continuing to monitor the eastern border, he added.
Thursday's intercept was at least the fourth of its kind in recent weeks.
Polish jets scrambled to intercept another Russian reconnaissance aircraft north of Łeba on Monday, and similar incidents occurred over the Baltic in mid-July and early August.
None of the Russian aircraft entered Polish airspace, officials said.
Poland's military has noted that Russian surveillance planes, and, increasingly, combat jets, routinely fly over the Baltic with transponders off and no flight plans filed, hampering air traffic control and identification efforts.
The intercepts came as Poland's foreign ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Mikhno on Thursday to protest what it called Russian state terrorism and an escalation of hybrid operations against Poland and other countries.
Ministry spokesman Maciej Wewiór cited repeated incursions near Polish airspace and said Russian military flights without identification equipment violate international safety standards.
The protest followed Germany's announcement on Tuesday that Russia was behind an attempted drone attack on Leipzig Airport in August.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP