Russia accused of disrupting von der Leyen's flight GPS

Russia Suspected of Jamming European Commission President’s Plane Over Bulgaria

Russia is suspected of disrupting the satellite signal of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a flight over Bulgaria, reportedly causing it to circle an airport for an hour before landing.

Von der Leyen was en route to Plovdiv on Sunday when her plane lost electronic navigation assistance, delaying its arrival. A deputy spokesperson for the commission, Arianna Podestà, confirmed the incident, stating that Bulgarian authorities had indicated Russian interference as the likely cause. “We are familiar with such threats, which are part of Russia’s aggressive tactics,” she said.

While satellite navigation interference has grown increasingly frequent in airspace near Russia, it remains unclear whether von der Leyen’s plane was specifically targeted. When asked, Podestà responded, “That question should be addressed to the Russians.”

The incident, first reported by the Financial Times, involved the plane circling Plovdiv airport before landing using traditional navigation methods. The commission did not provide further details at the time.

The disruption occurred during von der Leyen’s four-day trip to EU member states along the bloc’s eastern borders. Speaking in Vilnius on Monday, she did not reference the incident but discussed the “ongoing military and hybrid threats” facing Lithuania. Commenting on recent unauthorized drone crossings from Belarus, she added, “As Lithuania faces challenges, so does all of Europe.”

Podestà stated that the event “only strengthens our resolve to enhance defence capabilities and continue supporting Ukraine.”

In March 2024, Russia was also accused of jamming the signal of a plane carrying then-UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps as it flew near Kaliningrad. The RAF aircraft experienced GPS interference for roughly 30 minutes, though it was unclear if Shapps was the intended target.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, GPS jamming and spoofing—tactics that distort navigation data—have risen sharply. A recent EU document revealed that 13 member states raised concerns over such disruptions to air and maritime travel.

According to the report, Poland documented 2,732 cases of electronic interference in January 2025, compared to 1,908 in October 2023, while Lithuania recorded 1,185 cases in the same period, up from 556 in March 2024. The document described these disruptions as “deliberate actions by Russia and Belarus,” noting their damaging impact despite low cost and effort.