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Russia has denied being responsible for the failure of the navigation system onboard European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane when it tried to land at an airport in Bulgaria.
“Your information is incorrect,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told The Financial Times on Monday, a statement widely carried by Russian state media.
Why It Matters
NATO countries in Europe have reported extensive interference with aircraft navigation systems in recent years, often pointing the finger at Russia. Jamming and spoofing satellite navigation systems like GPS can impact military aircraft, weapons, and drones. Spoofing involves providing false location data.
What to Know
Arianna Podesta, deputy chief spokesperson for the European Commission, told Newsweek that the plane experienced GPS jamming but landed safely. The aircraft had to use paper maps during landing due to a lack of GPS signal.
The Bulgarian government reported that the satellite signal transmitting information to the plane’s GPS navigation system was neutralized during the flight. To ensure safety, air control services offered an alternative landing method using terrestrial navigation tools.
Some European officials describe GPS interference as a deliberate Russian tactic and part of Moscow’s hybrid warfare arsenal, which includes cyberattacks, information campaigns, or targeting vulnerable infrastructure.
“It is a fact that Russia is influencing GPS devices in our airspace,” Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said last year. “Not just Estonia; in our region.” GPS jamming has plagued the Baltic Sea region, particularly near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, surrounded by NATO members.
Latvia’s Civil Aviation Agency stated that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had expressed grave concern over GNSS signal interference from the Russian Federation. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Finland, all EU countries now in NATO, are most impacted by satellite navigation interference.
“This will further reinforce our unshakable commitment to ramp up our defense capabilities and support for Ukraine,” Podesta added.
Von der Leyen was in Bulgaria as part of a trip to visit the economic bloc’s member states close to Russia and Belarus. The EU, sharing many members with NATO, has unveiled measures to boost defense spending, including loans.
“This incident underlines the urgency of the President’s current trip to frontline Member States, where she has seen firsthand the everyday threats from Russia and its proxies,” Podesta said.
What People Are Saying
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s former foreign minister, expressed concern on X: “Deeply concerned to hear about the deeply concerning GPS interference that diverted @vonderleyen’s flight. Europe stands united in expression of deep concerns and must commit to the deployment of ever-deepening concerns moving forward.”
Arianna Podesta, deputy chief spokesperson for the European Commission, stated: “The EU will continue to invest in defense and in Europe’s readiness.”
What Happens Next
Von der Leyen is expected to conclude her trip to “frontline Member States” in Romania on Monday.
