EU Commission President Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Jamming in Bulgaria

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced suspected Russian GPS jamming while preparing to land in Bulgaria, forcing pilots to rely on paper maps to safely complete the landing. Bulgarian authorities and EU officials confirmed the satellite navigation disruption, describing it as blatant interference likely linked to Russia amid its ongoing hybrid threats against frontline EU nations. This incident underscores the increase in GPS jamming attacks in Eastern Europe since the escalation of Russia's war in Ukraine and highlights the urgent need for stronger European defense and electronic security measures. Von der Leyen, on a tour of seven EU countries bordering Russia and Belarus, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong deterrence against Russian aggression. EU representatives reiterated their commitment to ramping up defense capabilities and continued support for Ukraine in response to such hostile actions. Despite the incident, von der Leyen's itinerary proceeded as planned, signaling EU resilience in the face of ongoing hybrid warfare tactics.