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On September 1, 2025, a quiet flight into Bulgaria turned into a striking reminder of Europe’s vulnerability. As the aircraft carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen approached Plovdiv, its GPS navigation suddenly went dark. Pilots were forced to circle for nearly an hour, relying on paper maps and ground-based instructions before finally landing safely.
September 3, 2025
The cause was not a technical glitch. Bulgarian officials and the European Commission pointed to deliberate GPS jamming, with suspicions immediately falling on Russia. Moscow denied involvement, but the timing and location of the disruption spoke volumes: von der Leyen was in the middle of a four-day security tour of EU states bordering Russia.
GPS jamming is deceptively simple. By flooding an area with strong radio signals, attackers can overwhelm satellite receivers and render them useless. The equipment to pull this off can be bought for a few hundred dollars, yet the consequences for aviation and infrastructure are immense.
For aircraft, the risk is especially acute during landings in low visibility. In this case, von der Leyen’s pilots had to fall back on old-fashioned navigation. But the fact that Europe’s most senior political leader was left circling over Bulgaria underlines how electronic interference can quickly cross from nuisance to strategic threat.
This was not just about a plane. It was a message.
Von der Leyen’s trip was intended to underscore solidarity with frontline EU states and reaffirm the bloc’s commitment to defending against Russian aggression. The jamming incident turned her visit into a vivid demonstration of the very threats she came to discuss.
NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte was quick to stress that the alliance is taking the matter “very seriously,” vowing that measures are underway to counter such hybrid tactics. European officials are already working on new detection systems, including satellite constellations in low Earth orbit, to strengthen resilience.
Electronic interference has long been part of Russia’s playbook, from disrupting military communications to sowing chaos in civilian infrastructure. What makes this case different is the target: a high-profile EU leader, in an EU member state, during an official tour.
It was a symbolic strike, designed not to destroy, but to demonstrate - to show that Europe’s skies and signals remain within reach of disruption.
As hybrid threats expand, Europe faces a sobering truth: the battlefield now includes the invisible signals that guide planes, ships, and entire economies. Redundancy - from conventional navigation systems to resilient satellite networks - is no longer a backup plan, but a strategic necessity.
Von der Leyen’s plane landed safely, but the episode was a warning. The next disruption may not be so contained. And in an era where peace itself depends on stability across land, sea, air, and spectrum, disrupted signals may well mean disrupted peace.
Author: Olga Nasibullina, Co-Founder of THE SIGN.MEDIA
Photo: Ruben Santamara
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