The German Ministry of Defense suspects Russia of being responsible for GPS disruptions in the Baltic Sea region, particularly in the Kaliningrad Oblast. The disruptions have been ongoing since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with military users being advised to use alternative navigation methods. The Ministry had previously reported sporadic disruptions in the northeastern part of German airspace, but did not specifically point to Russia as the likely cause at that time.
Countermeasures against GPS disruptions fall under the jurisdiction of the German Federal Network Agency. The agency stated that disruptions caused by sources outside of Germany are generally the responsibility of the country where the source is located. Once the cause and location of the disruptions are confirmed, a reporting process is initiated through the International Telecommunication Union to urge the responsible state to take action. Since the start of the Russian invasion, an increase in disruptions of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in the Baltic Sea region has been reported, affecting both civilian and military aircraft in the airspace over Poland, the Baltics, and even parts of southern Sweden.
The Ministry’s spokesperson stated that the disruptions are likely to be of Russian origin and involve electromagnetic spectrum interference, possibly emanating from the Kaliningrad Oblast. The ongoing disruptions have prompted military users to utilize alternative navigation methods in the affected regions. The Ministry had previously reported disruptions to the signals broadcasted by the Global Positioning System (GPS) since the end of 2023, but did not attribute the likely cause to Russia until now.
The German Federal Network Agency is responsible for addressing GPS disruptions caused by sources outside of Germany, with established processes for reporting and urging action through international organizations like the International Telecommunication Union. The disruptions in the Baltic Sea region have increased significantly since the start of the Russian invasion, impacting both civilian and military aircraft in the affected airspace. The disruptions have been reported to affect thousands of cases since December, with the disruptions extending to southern Sweden in some instances.
