Sweden accuses Russia of GPS jamming over Baltic Sea
Russia denies claim, calls on Sweden to share evidence
Sweden accused Russia of jamming GPS signals in the Baltic Sea on Monday, a claim swiftly rejected by Moscow and countered by a call for proof. Sweden and Poland made similar accusations last year, drawing denials from Moscow and a lack of confirmation from Warsaw. The Swedish government said it had informed partners in the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) about its findings.
"There are numerous indications that the interference we have observed originates from the Russian territory," Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in a statement.
The Russian foreign ministry described the claim as "absurd" and accused Sweden of "making excuses for its own failures".
"To all appearances, these 'discovery sessions' are an attempt to divert attention from the pressing problems that the Baltic states have been facing," the ministry said, without elaborating.
The Swedish statement came after a news report claimed that a Russian military ship, the MOSKVA, had been detected off the coast of Sweden sailing with its radar switched on in a manner that appeared to be blocking GPS signals.
The Swedish armed forces said the MOSKVA had been "tracking" an Swedish aircraft that was patrolling the Baltic Sea region.
A Swedish government source told the AFP news agency the interference began in the early hours of Monday and lasted for several hours, affecting civilian aviation and maritime communications. The source said it was "in all likelihood" the result of jammers located on the MOSKVA.
A US official told AFP that the US European Command had observed "activities in the Baltics consistent with jamming" during the same period.
Russia has repeatedly rejected claims that it was behind previous GPS interference in the region, saying the accusations are "unfounded".
Sweden, which is not a member of NATO, has criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine, supporting sanctions against Moscow and providing military support to Kyiv.
The country shares a long border with Russia, as well as an extensive coastline with the Baltic Sea, a strategic waterway.
GPS jamming is a technique typically used by armies to protect sensitive operations, or to create confusion and hamper the enemy's ability to target accurately.
In 2020, the US military accused Russia of having jammed GPS signals during its military exercises with Belarus. Moscow denied the allegations.
Later that year, Poland accused Russia of jamming GPS signals over the Baltic Sea during large-scale NATO exercises, while in 2021 Sweden and Poland accused Russia of carrying out a "hostile" jamming of GPS signals during joint military exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Russia has denied all such claims.
