Russia Denies Allegations of Jamming GPS During EU Leader's Flight

Russia has categorically dismissed allegations that it attempted to disrupt the GPS system of a plane carrying the leader of the European Union. The claims emerged after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's recent trip to Bulgaria, prompting a response from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the ministry, described the allegations as absurd and entirely false during a press briefing. She emphasized that these claims are part of a broader effort by Western nations to tarnish Russia's reputation globally and indicated that Moscow would continue to challenge what she referred to as "the West's web of lies."

Zakharova also suggested that the claims serve as a diversion from critical issues within the EU, such as its economic struggles and the recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in China. She criticized the political leadership in the EU for being disconnected from the realities affecting their citizens and emphasized a need to recognize the actual sources of the European crisis.

Furthermore, she referenced data from Flightradar24, indicating that von der Leyen's aircraft maintained a stable GPS signal throughout its journey. In response to the incident, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov asserted that there would not be any investigation into the matter, categorizing the disturbances as neither hybrid nor cyber threats. Meanwhile, since 2024, accusations have arisen from Nordic and Baltic nations against Russia for allegedly interfering with aerial and maritime communications, which Russia continues to deny.