Poland sends out a warning: Russia is jamming GPS in widening cyber war

Russia is disrupting Global Positioning System (GPS) signals in northern Poland in an effort to destabilize its NATO neighbor, the Polish Deputy Prime Minister has said.

Russia is actively disrupting GPS signals in northern Poland as part of a broader effort to destabilize the country, said Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski.

Speaking at a Digital Summit in Gdańsk, Gawkowski pointed to ongoing reports from drone operators who experience significant signal interference. The deputy PM called it “a component of the hybrid war Russia is conducting against Poland – waged every day in cyberspace.”

According to the Polish state news agency PAP, Gawkowski warned that Moscow has already targeted Polish infrastructure and spread disinformation during the recent presidential elections.

“We’re responding across all fronts, but cyber threats are only going to escalate,” he said.

“Russia views Poland as a key adversary to destabilize, which is why we must alert other European countries to the navigation system threats.”

Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection.

He added that Poland’s Government Security Centre, military cyber defense units, and other agencies are monitoring the interference and coordinating 24/7 countermeasures.

GPS jams are a problem for the Baltics and Nordics, too

The Lithuanian air navigation authority reported over 300 GPS jamming incidents just this March alone, noting that while pilots can rely on ground-based navigation systems, the interference still impacts flight paths near Russia and Belarus.

This January, a Ryanair plane that was supposed to land at Vilnius airport was diverted to Warsaw in Poland because of GPS interference, Lithuania's air navigation authority said.

Estonia and Finland blamed Russia last year for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. Russia has denied interfering with communication and satellite networks.

GPS jamming has been widely used in the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian war.

What is GPS jamming?

GPS jamming happens when somebody decides to deliberately block or interfere with GPS signals. These come from satellites and help devices on the ground determine their exact location and time.

When GPS jamming happens, the GPS receiver, let's say, a small part of your phone or airplane, fails to get accurate signals. As a result, it can cause the loss of location data, showing incorrect placements of objects, or fail to navigate properly.

This happens when a jammer device sends out radio signals on the same frequencies as GPS satellites, but they are more powerful.

This makes the real GPS signal “fade out” and impossible for receivers nearby to pick up. It’s a problem because it can affect how gadgets, cars, the military, and emergency services work. That’s why GPS jamming is often used as a form of electronic warfare.