Russia is suspected of jamming the satellite signal of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over Bulgaria, reportedly forcing the aircraft to circle an airport for an hour.
Von der Leyen was traveling to Plovdiv on Sunday when her charter plane lost satellite navigation, delaying its arrival. Commission deputy spokesperson Arianna Podestà confirmed the incident, stating that Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference. She noted that such threats and intimidation are a regular part of Russia’s hostile behavior.
It is unclear whether von der Leyen was specifically targeted, as satellite navigation interference has become increasingly common in airspace near Russia. Podestà declined to speculate, suggesting the question should be directed to Russia. Major airports have backup navigation systems, such as radio navigation, which remain reliable when GPS fails.
The incident was first reported by the Financial Times. It occurred during von der Leyen’s four-day trip to seven EU countries on the bloc’s eastern border. While in Vilnius on Monday, she did not mention the incident but spoke of the “constant military and hybrid threats” facing Lithuania, emphasizing that challenges to the country are challenges to all of Europe.
Podestà added that the incident reinforces the EU’s commitment to strengthening defense capabilities and supporting Ukraine.
In March 2024, Russia was also suspected of jamming the signal of a plane carrying then-UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps as it flew near Kaliningrad. GPS jamming and spoofing—a tactic that displays false navigation information—have increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a sharp rise over the past year.
In June, 13 EU member states raised concerns about jamming and spoofing disrupting air and sea travel. According to an internal EU document from May, Poland recorded 2,732 cases of electronic interference in January 2025, up from 1,908 in October 2023, while Lithuania recorded 1,185 cases in the same month, up from 556 in March 2024. The document described the interference as systematic and deliberate actions by Russia and Belarus, noting that causing significant disruption has been simple and cheap, and is likely to continue without countermeasures.
On Monday, the Commission announced sanctions against several companies involved in GPS signal disruption originating from Russia. It is also developing an aviation-specific plan and broader strategies to prevent jamming.
In a separate incident, Ukrainian police have accused Russia of involvement in the weekend killing of former parliamentary speaker and pro-Western politician Andriy Parubiy. He was shot dead in Lviv on Saturday by a man disguised as a delivery driver. National police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi stated on Facebook that the crime was not random and that Russian involvement is suspected, vowing that those responsible will be held accountable.Hard times. The shooter ensured the victim was dead, Vyhivskyi stated.
“He spent a long time preparing, watching, planning, and finally pulling the trigger. It took us just 36 hours to track him down and make the arrest,” he added.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a “horrific murder” that has shaken “security in a country already at war.”
Hopes for a ceasefire remain dim after last month’s summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump failed to produce concrete results. A deadline set by the U.S. president during the summit for the Russian leader to take steps toward ending the war—or face new sanctions—is set to expire this week. Trump has a history of delaying threatened actions. On Friday, Emmanuel Macron accused Putin of trying to “play” Trump.
Ursula von der Leyen noted that Ukraine’s allies are working on security guarantees. She described the first line of defense as “a strong, well-equipped, and experienced Ukrainian army,” and the second as “a multinational group from the coalition of the willing, backed by American support.”
Around 30 countries—known as the coalition of the willing—have pledged support for Ukraine, though it remains unclear how many European nations would contribute troops or how such forces would be deployed. The U.S. expects European countries to take the lead but may provide logistical support.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with European leaders in Paris on Thursday as part of efforts to push for an end to Russia’s three-and-a-half-year invasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the suspected GPS interference on a plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen designed to be clear and accessible
General Beginner Questions
1 What happened with Ursula von der Leyens plane
On a flight to Armenia the aircraft carrying the European Commission President experienced severe GPS signal jamming which can disrupt navigation
2 What is GPS jamming
Its when a device broadcasts a stronger fake radio signal to drown out the real GPS signals from satellites This confuses or blocks GPS receivers
3 Why is Russia suspected of doing this
The incident occurred near Kaliningrad a Russian territory with a known military presence Russia has a history of testing electronic warfare systems including GPS jammers in this region
4 Was the plane in danger
While serious and disruptive modern aircraft have multiple backup navigation systems to safely complete a flight if GPS fails The crew is trained for this
5 Has this happened before
Yes GPS interference and spoofing have been frequently reported by commercial and military flights around conflict zones including near Russia Ukraine and the Middle East
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 Whats the difference between jamming and spoofing
Jamming simply blocks the signal causing a loss of signal alert
Spoofing is more sophisticated it creates a false signal that tricks the receiver into showing the wrong location or time Spoofing is often harder to detect
7 What evidence points to Russia
Intelligence agencies and opensource investigators use specialized equipment to trace the origin and type of the jamming signal The specific signals characteristics and its location are strong indicators
8 What are the military and strategic reasons for doing this
Jamming protects sensitive military areas from drone attacks or reconnaissance It can also be a form of hybrid warfarea way to disrupt and intimidate without direct physical confrontation
9 Besides planes what else can be affected by GPS jamming
Maritime navigation financial networks that rely on GPS for timing ground transportation and even smartphone apps can be disrupted in the affected area
10 How do pilots and airlines mitigate this risk
Pilots are trained to immediately switch to alternative navigation
