- Baltic governments accuse Russia of escalating GPS jamming and spoofing near their borders, severely disrupting aviation, maritime, and ground communications.
- International aviation and telecommunications bodies have warned Russia that the interference poses flight-safety risks and may violate international law.
- Despite denials of wrongdoing, Moscow has justified the jamming as protecting national infrastructure, while NATO states expand countermeasures like Galileo’s anti-spoofing capability.
NATO’s easternmost members are facing a sharp increase in radio and satellite interference, with Baltic states pointing to Russia’s deployment of electronic warfare equipment near their borders. Authorities report widespread GPS jamming and spoofing that has disrupted both air and maritime communications, with Estonia stating that 85% of its flights now encounter interference. Lithuania reported a 22-fold increase in jamming incidents in the past year, underscoring the severity of the threat, according to gCaptain.
Security Implications and NATO Response
Officials warn that the disruption goes beyond civilian safety, posing a strategic challenge for NATO as Russia tests the alliance’s responses. “Russia is continuously testing NATO, probing both our military and political responses,” said Jacek Tarocinski of Poland’s Center for Eastern Studies. The Baltic states—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—have escalated complaints to international organizations, joined by Finland, Sweden, and Poland, as the interference threatens a region already central to NATO’s standoff with Moscow.
International Condemnation of Russia’s Actions
Letters sent to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) outlined mounting concerns and data linking Russia to the disruptions. ICAO expressed “grave concern” over aviation safety, warning that unless Russia provided remedies within 30 days, the activity could be treated as a breach of international law. The ITU board likewise ordered Moscow to halt interference. While Russia did not deny the actions during an ITU meeting, it justified them as measures to safeguard national infrastructure.
Impact on Civil Aviation and Navigation
The interference has forced pilots to increasingly rely on radar and alternative navigation systems, raising air traffic control workloads. The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency noted that disruptions were particularly severe near the Suwalki Gap, a strategic corridor bordering Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave—believed to be a focal point of electronic warfare operations. Lithuanian officials have also identified jamming equipment in Kaliningrad, while Estonia and Latvia reported interference from Russia’s Pskov region and border areas.
Wider Disruptions and Safety Concerns
The interference has expanded beyond aviation to affect maritime navigation, mobile networks, and even civilian drone operations. Authorities in Estonia and Lithuania have warned against flying drones near borders due to spoofed coordinates that could cause crashes. Estonian officials estimate the disruption has already cost the government around €500,000. Some electronic warfare devices are also suspected to be deployed aboard Russian naval vessels in the Baltic Sea, further complicating security and safety in the region.
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Source: gCaptain
