Camilla Jessen
Here’s what we know.
The Kremlin rejects allegations that Russia was behind the GPS disruption of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Bulgaria.
The Russian Foreign Ministry calls the claims “desperate” and “fake news.”
Von der Leyen’s Plane Incident
The incident in question occurred on Sunday, when von der Leyen’s aircraft reportedly lost satellite navigation signals while approaching Plovdiv airport.
According to Bulgaria’s Air Traffic Services Authority, the onboard GPS system stopped receiving satellite data, forcing the plane to rely on ground-based navigation systems and traditional, analog backups—reportedly including paper maps—for a safe landing.
Confirmed Interference
Bulgarian authorities confirmed the interference, telling the Financial Times:
“Since February 2022, there has been a significant increase in cases of GPS jamming and, recently, spoofing… This interference disrupts the accurate reception of GPS signals, leading to various operational challenges for aircraft and ground systems.”
Moscow: “100% Falsification”
In a briefing at the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded with mockery.
According to Digi24, Zakharove called the reports “100% falsification” and accused Western media of manufacturing anti-Russian hysteria.
“Maybe We Should’ve Stolen the Maps Too”
“This latest false information about Ursula von der Leyen and her plane, which lands with the help of paper maps, shows desperation,” said Zakharova.
“I imagine someone sitting in the Kremlin and, you know, manipulating the joystick and saying, ‘Unplug Ursula von der Leyen from the GPS, let her deal with paper maps.’ I don’t know why we didn’t steal the maps too. Maybe it would have been easier.”
She went on to accuse EU elites of using what she described as fabricated “Russophobic” narratives to distract from domestic crises.
Rising Incidents of Jamming
While Russia brushes off the accusations, concern is mounting across Europe about the rise in electronic interference with navigation systems.
Spoofing and jamming GPS signals—techniques historically employed by militaries and intelligence agencies—have increasingly been blamed for disrupting civilian life.
Commercial airliners, cargo ships, and even private vehicles have reported sudden losses of signal across Eastern Europe and the Baltic region.
A Risk to Air Safety
EU officials have warned that the surge in interference, often attributed to Russian operations near conflict zones or sensitive regions, poses a significant risk to air safety.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued advisories, and pilots across NATO countries are being trained to operate in GPS-denied environments.
More Than Just a Technical Glitch
Although the GPS failure during von der Leyen’s flight did not result in harm, it adds to a growing list of incidents that are prompting calls for stronger international protocols and defensive measures against electronic warfare tactics in civilian zones.
As electronic warfare increasingly enters the civilian realm, what was once a niche concern for militaries has become a pressing issue for governments, airlines, and international regulators alike.
