A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was subjected to suspected Russian GPS jamming while attempting to land in Bulgaria, the European Commission confirmed on Monday. Despite the interference, the aircraft landed safely, according to commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta.
The incident occurred on Sunday during von der Leyen’s official visit to Bulgaria. “We can confirm there was GPS jamming,” Podesta stated, adding that Bulgarian authorities strongly suspect Russia was behind the “blatant interference.” She underlined that such hostile actions fit into a pattern of threats and intimidation attributed to Moscow.
According to Podesta, the incident underscores the urgency of von der Leyen’s visit to frontline EU member states bordering Russia and its sphere of influence, where she witnessed the “everyday threats from Russia and its proxies.” The spokesperson reiterated the EU’s determination to strengthen its defense posture and reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine.
