EU Leader's Plane Subject to Suspected Russian GPS Disruption

The European Union has raised suspicions that Russia interfered with the GPS of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her journey to Bulgaria on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed that GPS issues occurred but assured that von der Leyen's plane landed without incident. Bulgaria's authorities have indicated that they suspect deliberate interference from Russia as the cause.

The spokesperson further commented that Russia's alleged actions underscore the ongoing threats and intimidations typical of its aggressive posture, thereby motivating the EU to intensify its defense strategies and support for Ukraine.

This situation highlighted the urgent necessity for Europe to strengthen its defense and security investments.

While von der Leyen traveled on an EU-chartered aircraft, queries about whether it was explicitly targeted by this possible GPS disruption were referred back to Russia for clarification.

Amid inquiries from CNBC, the Kremlin, via Dmitry Peskov, refuted these claims, describing the information as inaccurate.

Additional insights from the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority noted an escalation in GPS interference activities since February 2022, impacting both aerial navigation and ground operations.

In a statement reported by Sky News, the Bulgarian government confirmed that the GPS navigation signal for the aircraft was indeed compromised upon its approach to Plovdiv Airport.