Ursula von der Leyen’s Plane Hit by Suspected GPS Jamming in Bulgaria

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced targeted GPS interference as it attempted to land in Bulgaria on Sunday, according to the European Commission. The incident has been described by EU officials as a suspected act of Russian electronic warfare, highlighting growing security concerns across Europe’s eastern flank.

European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Arianna Podestà confirmed that Bulgarian authorities informed Brussels they believe Russia was responsible for the disruption. “They suspect this blatant interference was carried out by Russia,” she told reporters.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the accusation in comments to the Financial Times, stating, “your information is incorrect.”

Safe Landing Despite Interference

The aircraft, which was flying on a charter service, managed to land safely at Plovdiv International Airport in southern Bulgaria. A source familiar with the situation told CNN that, due to the loss of GPS guidance, pilots reverted to traditional navigation methods, including paper charts, to complete the descent.

Officials stressed it was unclear whether the flight was deliberately targeted or simply affected by broader jamming activity. Regardless, the timing was sensitive: von der Leyen was in Bulgaria as part of a high-profile tour of eastern EU member states aimed at shoring up support for Ukraine.

Broader Context of Hybrid Warfare

GPS interference has long been associated with Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics, particularly in areas near NATO’s eastern borders. Scandinavian and Baltic governments have repeatedly accused Moscow of jamming signals to disrupt air traffic and maritime operations.

Research teams in Poland and Germany documented widespread interference between June and December 2024, concluding that Russia used both a “shadow fleet” of vessels and installations in Kaliningrad to project electronic disruption. In response, the EU has previously sanctioned several Russian-linked individuals and entities tied to these activities.

Podestà emphasized that the incident reinforces the urgency of strengthening Europe’s defenses: “This will further reinforce our unshakable commitment to ramp up our defense capabilities and support for Ukraine.”

Von der Leyen’s Eastern Europe Tour

The GPS jamming episode occurred during von der Leyen’s multi-country visit to frontline EU states bordering Russia, Belarus, and the Black Sea. Her tour began in Latvia and Finland on Friday, moved to Estonia on Saturday, and continued with stops in Poland and Bulgaria on Sunday. The trip concluded with visits to Lithuania and Romania on Monday.

The purpose of the tour was to demonstrate European unity in the face of Russia’s continued war in Ukraine and to encourage member states to sustain and expand their military and financial support for Kyiv.

Speaking in Sofia shortly after landing—before news of the interference became public—von der Leyen underlined the importance of urgency in Europe’s response. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has not changed, and he will not change. He is a predator. He can only be kept in check through strong deterrence,” she said.

Implications Going Forward

While Sunday’s interference did not endanger lives, it underscores the vulnerability of civilian and government aircraft to electronic attacks. For Brussels, the incident adds weight to calls for enhanced electronic warfare countermeasures and closer coordination among EU and NATO allies.

As the war in Ukraine grinds on with little sign of resolution, Europe faces mounting pressure to bolster its resilience against both conventional and hybrid threats. For von der Leyen, the event served as a real-time reminder of the stakes at play on the EU’s eastern borders.