Russia uses electronic warfare to jam GPS in Baltic - The Times

Massive GPS disruptions in the region

Over the past two years, regular interruptions in navigation systems have been recorded in the Baltic Sea area.

In some cases, the disruptions have been so severe that civilian vessels have been forced to resort to traditional navigation methods.

The The Times notes that office workers struggle with blocked internet, teenagers are constantly forced to switch VPNs, and taxi drivers try to navigate Moscow without online navigation.

How the interference works

The first signs of large-scale problems began to be recorded in late 2023. These involve jamming and spoofing technologies, in which radio waves block or distort satellite navigation data.

According to the investigation, the sources of the interference are Russian systems located in the St. Petersburg area and in the Kaliningrad region, including the Murmansk-BN system.

Consequences for ships and aviation

Shipping is the most affected by the interference. Unlike aviation, sailors have far fewer alternatives to GPS.

Lithuanian security services note that this creates additional safety risks.

At the same time, disruptions also affect aviation. In 2024, Finnair temporarily canceled flights, and later similar incidents occurred with other aircraft, including a Ryanair flight.

Reaction from countries and recorded incidents

Official data on the scale of the problem is limited, but individual countries have confirmed numerous incidents.

Estonia has reported at least 60 cases of GPS interference since the start of 2024.

The Finnish Coast Guard also points to constant disruptions in the Gulf of Finland, which can last for hours and extend over long distances.

Security risks

The problems also affect the military forces of NATO countries. In particular, during exercises in the Gulf of Gdańsk, German ships temporarily lost navigation.

Experts warn that such actions pose a serious threat to security in the region and could impact both civilian shipping and military operations.

The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office has released details of a war crime committed by Russian forces — the seizure of the Ukrainian rescue vessel Sapfir near Snake Island in the first days of Russia's invasion.

Recent successes of Ukrainian troops in the Oleksandrivka direction have placed the Russian command in serious tactical and operational difficulties on the battlefield.