Estonia has accused Russia of breaching international airspace regulations by disrupting GPS signals. According to REUTERS, Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Foreign Minister, stated that the interference in Estonian airspace caused disruptions to civil aviation in the area. Tsahkna labelled this interference as a “hybrid attack” and intends to address the issue at the European Union (EU) and NATO. Tartu Airport, servicing Estonia’s second-largest city, relies solely on GPS signals for approach and landing. The interference prompted Finnish carrier Finnair to halt flights to Tartu until alternative solutions are implemented.
This isn’t the first time GPS jamming has occurred in the Baltic region. Since the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, such incidents have become commonplace. Russia is believed to be the most likely perpetrator, though its culpability has not been conclusively proven. While aircraft can still navigate safely without a GPS signal, the jamming deprives pilots of an essential source of geolocation. Although most airports use alternative approach methods, some, like Tartu, depend solely on GPS signals for their operations.
Experts estimate that tens of thousands of civilian flights have been affected by the recent GPS jamming. The interference, which disrupts all GPS users in the area, has also impacted signals used by ships in the Baltic Sea, prompting warnings from the Swedish navy about shipping safety. Experts note that GPS jamming is relatively easy to conduct with inexpensive equipment. Although no country has admitted to orchestrating the interference in the Baltics, officials in the region have little doubt that Russia is responsible, both from its mainland and its exclave of Kaliningrad, situated between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea.
