Russian Suspected in GPS Jamming of EU Chief’s Plane in Bulgaria

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plane experienced suspected Russian GPS navigation jamming while landing in Bulgaria, forcing the pilots to rely on paper maps to safely land at Plovdiv Airport. Bulgarian authorities and the European Commission attributed the interference to Russia, describing it as part of ongoing hostile actions that have increased significantly since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin denied the allegations of involvement. Von der Leyen, on a tour of EU frontline states to discuss defense readiness and support for Ukraine, emphasized the incident highlights the urgency of strengthening European defense capabilities. In response, EU officials announced plans to expand satellite deployments to better detect and counteract such interference. The incident underscores the broader challenges Russia poses to aviation safety and European security amid the conflict.