A flight carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen narrowly avoided disaster on Sunday after its GPS navigation system was jammed while attempting to land in Bulgaria, in what officials suspect was a deliberate act by Russia.
The aircraft, a charter flight, was approaching Plovdiv International Airport when its navigation systems failed, forcing pilots to rely on paper maps to bring it down safely. Bulgarian authorities informed the European Commission that they believe the interference was the result of Russian electronic warfare, a charge Moscow has yet to comment on.
Von der Leyen, one of Europe’s strongest voices in support of Ukraine, was in Bulgaria as part of a tour through eastern EU member states bordering Russia, Belarus, and the Black Sea. Her trip followed last week’s Ukraine summit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, where she once again pressed European nations to deepen their commitment to Kyiv’s defense.
“This incident underlines the urgency of the President’s current trip to frontline Member States, where she has seen first-hand the everyday threats from Russia and its proxies,” said European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Arianna Podestà. She stressed that the event would only harden Europe’s resolve to strengthen defense capabilities and stand firmly with Ukraine.
GPS jamming has long been part of Russia’s hybrid warfare toolkit, often used to disrupt air and maritime navigation. Scandinavian and Baltic states have repeatedly accused Moscow of such tactics, while researchers in Poland and Germany recently confirmed Russia’s involvement through operations launched from its Kaliningrad exclave and a network of shadow vessels. The European Union has already sanctioned Russian-linked entities for these activities.
The timing of the incident is seen as deeply symbolic, underscoring the risks faced by European leaders traveling in regions most exposed to Moscow’s aggression. Speaking in Sofia before news of the interference became public, von der Leyen warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a predator who “can only be kept in check through strong deterrence.”
The president’s tour included visits to Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Romania—each stop intended to showcase EU unity and resilience as Ukraine continues to endure missile strikes and Russia shows no sign of de-escalating the war.