EU countries accuse Russia of sabotage in the Baltic Sea area

Report from several countries

Russia is supposed to disturb GPS over the Baltic Sea – problems for air traffic

Targeted disorders of satellite navigation are increasingly leading to security concerns in Northern Europe. Several countries have now collected evidence together. The trail leads to Russia.

In the Baltic States and in parts of Northern Europe, targeted disorders of the global satellite navigation system GNSS are increasing. These affect air traffic in particular. Now several European countries have submitted a joint report to international organizations on the initiative of the Latvian state company “Electronism Sakari”. The analysis is based on extensive measurement data and clearly indicates Russia as the cause of the disorders.

According to the company, the interference signals were precisely documented both on the ground and in airspace. In cooperation with the Latvian border protection authority, the source was traced back to the Russian area. There are military facilities there that specialize in electronic warfare. The company was also able to demonstrate so-called spoofing incidents in which navigation devices are deliberately provided with false coordinates.

Since bilateral symptoms have so far remained without effect, the countries involved have now bundled their findings and transmitted to several international committees: the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is responsible for the global regulation of the radio spectrum, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), monitored the security standards in civil air traffic. The international sea shipping organization (IMO) and other UN committees also deal with the case.

According to the report, Russia responded to an ITU request and explained that measures to protect their own civilian and military infrastructure were underway. However, there was no contemporary examination of the concrete allegations. So far, the ICAO has been waiting for an official statement. Should this be omitted, the topic could be placed on the agenda of the ICAO general assembly and treated as a potential violation of international aviation law.

“Only a coordinated and data -based procedure can have an impact on an international level,” said Jānis Bārda, CEO of “Electronism Sakari”. The aim is to permanently transfer the topic into the global security policy debate.