Swedish Authorities Link Recent GPS Disruptions to Russian and Belarusian Interference

Recent GPS disturbances in Sweden, notably impacting ambulance services in Kalmar län, have been attributed to interference from Russia or Belarus, according to Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson. In an interview with Sveriges Radio P4 Kalmar, Jonson criticized Russian activities that likely stem from military exercises or measures intended to protect transport operations. These disruptions pose serious threats to civil aviation safety and affect commercial maritime traffic along the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency has corroborated that the GPS disruptions, especially those affecting emergency services near the Baltic region, are predominantly tied to Russian interference. The Transport Agency has identified Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg as probable origin points of the signal jamming operations. The frequency of these incidents has escalated considerably, with 55 cases recorded in 2023 and a cumulative total of 733 reports by September of this year.

Defense Minister Jonson underscored the potential risks such interference brings to both the safety of civil aviation and the operational integrity of commercial shipping lanes. He condemned the actions of Russia and Belarus, highlighting the broader security implications of these GPS disturbances.

These ongoing disruptions form part of a wider pattern of electronic interference in the Baltic region, underscoring the geopolitical tensions influencing civil infrastructure and transport security in Sweden.