BRUSSELS – The European Commission has publicly accused the Russian government of deliberately jamming the GPS signal of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, an act it called “blatant interference” that endangered the aircraft.
The incident occurred on Monday as von der Leyen’s flight was passing over Bulgarian airspace. The President was en route to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as part of a tour of EU nations that border Russia and Belarus.
“We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming,” stated European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podestà. “We have received information from the Bulgarian authority that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.”
Podestà confirmed that the aircraft landed safely at Plovdiv airport and that there was no immediate danger to the passengers or crew. However, she framed the incident as a stark reminder of the escalating hybrid threats facing the bloc.
“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the president is carrying out in the front-line member states,” Podestà said. She added that the event would only strengthen the EU’s resolve to bolster its defenses, stating, “the EU will continue to invest into defense spending and in Europe’s readiness even more after this incident.”
The alleged jamming attack occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions. Von der Leyen has been a leading voice in Europe supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. She has also been openly skeptical of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to engage directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, fearing any peace agreement might come at Ukraine’s expense.
Just days before this incident, von der Leyen’s message was underscored by diplomatic activity in the United States. White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with senior Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, and Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya in New York City. These talks were part of a continued push for a peace agreement on terms favorable to Kyiv.
The targeting of a high-level EU flight represents a significant escalation in Russia’s campaign of electronic warfare, which has previously affected commercial and civilian aircraft in the Baltic and Black Sea regions. Security analysts suggest such acts are designed to test NATO and EU responses and disrupt aviation safety.
The incident is expected to be a key topic of discussion as President von der Leyen continues her tour, aimed at reassuring eastern flank nations of the EU’s commitment to their security in the face of an increasingly aggressive Russia.
