UN accuses Russia and North Korea of GPS signal jamming
Photo: Aircraft carrying EU leaders are also affected by GPS jamming (Getty Images)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has found Russia and North Korea guilty of jamming GPS signals in European airspace, according to AeroTime.
ICAO is a UN specialized agency that sets safety standards and regulations for international aviation.
The resolution, highlighting the destabilizing impact of Russia and North Korea on navigation systems, was released after the conclusion of ICAO's triennial assembly in Montreal on October 5.
The organization demands that Russia and North Korea immediately stop creating disruptions and fully comply with their obligations to ensure unobstructed navigation.
This is one of the harshest reprimands ICAO has ever issued to states accused of interfering with the global navigation satellite system.
EU countries that accuse Russia of GPS jamming
Several European countries, including Estonia and Finland, have publicly accused Russia of interfering with their navigation systems.
A joint investigation by Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland found that between January and April 2025, 122,600 flights in Northern Europe experienced GPS and other satellite system disruptions caused by Russia.
In April, such disruptions affected an average of 27.4% of flights, with some areas experiencing interference in over 42% of flights.
The jammers are located in Russia — in Kaliningrad, Saint Petersburg, Smolensk, and Rostov, according to the investigation.
Last month, a plane carrying Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles experienced a GPS attack near Kaliningrad.
Another notable incident occurred on August 31, when the plane of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made an emergency landing in Bulgaria due to navigation system failures. Russian involvement is being investigated.
