'Russia can falsify GPS signals deep into Europe'

Lithuanian officials say Russia has significantly expanded its ability to disrupt and falsify GPS signals across large parts of Europe, raising growing concerns about aviation safety, transportation systems, and regional security. According to Lithuania’s communications regulator, Russia can now spoof GPS signals at distances of up to 450 kilometers (280 miles) from its Kaliningrad enclave on the Baltic Sea.  

Officials say the interference has evolved from occasional disruptions into a persistent and organized campaign. Darius Kuliesius, deputy head of Lithuania’s communications authority, said Russia increased the number of spoofing antenna systems in Kaliningrad from three to 36 over the past year, dramatically expanding the reach and intensity of the false GPS signals.  

The affected area now stretches across the Baltic states, parts of Poland, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, and portions of the Baltic Sea. Lithuanian authorities said the disruptions have interfered with civilian aviation systems, mobile communications, and navigation technologies used in transportation and infrastructure.  

GPS spoofing differs from traditional jamming because it does not simply block signals — it transmits false positioning data that can mislead aircraft, ships, drones, and navigation systems into calculating incorrect locations. Security experts warn that spoofing is more difficult to detect and can create serious safety risks.