The European Commission has accused Russia of orchestrating a GPS interference attack that disrupted the landing of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane in Bulgaria on Sunday, August 31.
According to a Commission spokesperson, von der Leyen’s aircraft experienced “GPS jamming” as it approached Bulgarian airspace.
Pilots were reportedly forced to abandon satellite navigation systems and instead relied on paper maps to guide the aircraft safely to Plovdiv Airport.
The European Commission condemned the act as yet another reminder that “threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia’s hostile actions.”
Bulgaria informed the Commission that it suspected deliberate Russian interference. The Financial Times reported that officials described the incident as a chilling example of hybrid warfare, where technology disruption is used as a tool of intimidation.
The symbolic impact was stark. Von der Leyen was on a tour of Eastern European states to discuss defence cooperation and EU readiness.
Yet, her own aircraft fell victim to the very type of electronic warfare Europe has warned about.
“This event shows the president has seen firsthand the everyday threats posed by Russia and its proxies,” a Commission spokesperson said.
Brussels has vowed to respond with greater resolve.
The spokesperson emphasized that the incident will only harden Europe’s commitment to strengthening defence systems and ramping up support for Ukraine.
The European Union has already imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia, a move that has deepened tensions since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Member states have openly backed Kyiv with military and economic aid.
Just last week, von der Leyen urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to return to the negotiating table.
“We must secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine with firm and credible security guarantees,” she said after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, following a missile strike in Kyiv that damaged an EU office.
Security experts warn that the disruption of von der Leyen’s flight underscores Europe’s vulnerability to electronic interference.
While the plane landed safely, analysts say the event highlights the urgency for NATO and the EU to bolster countermeasures against Russia’s evolving cyber and electronic warfare strategies.
For now, von der Leyen’s tour continues, but the scare in Bulgaria has injected new urgency into Europe’s defence debate, reminding leaders that the threats from Moscow are both immediate and personal.
The post JUST IN: Suspected Russian GPS Attack Hits EU Commission President’s Plane appeared first on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
