UN ITU condemns Russia for alleged satellite system interference in European countries

The UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) condemned Russia for allegedly interfering with the satellite systems of several European countries, including Ukraine, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These incidents, reported over recent months, have disrupted GPS signals and jeopardised air traffic control.

ITU’s review indicated that the interference originated from earth stations near Moscow, Kaliningrad, and Pavlovka. The organisation called the interference ‘extremely worrisome and unacceptable’ and urged Russia to cease these actions immediately and investigate the incidents. It also proposed a meeting between the affected countries and Russia to resolve the issue.

Swedish authorities blamed Russia for harmful interference shortly after Sweden joined NATO, while France reported significant disruptions to its Eutelsat satellites. Additionally, Lithuania and Estonia raised alarms about navigation signal interference impacting flights. Earlier in the year, a jet carrying UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps experienced GPS jamming over Kaliningrad.

Russia denied any wrongdoing and complained about alleged interference by NATO countries, which ITU did not address. Russia’s presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, expressed unawareness of the UN agency attributing interference to Russia and questioned the UN’s authority to discuss the matter.