Russian Kaliningrad base behind GPS jamming; aims to disrupt NATO intelligence Zapytaj ChatGPT

GPS disruptions over the Baltic States and the Gulf of Finland originate from a secret Russian military facility in the Królewiec (rus. Kaliningrad) region, one of whose primary missions is to monitor NATO satellites and communications, according to the Delfi news portal.

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11 august 2025   |   20:32   |   Source: Gazeta Morska / PAP   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

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Classified Russian documents obtained by the Estonian news service reveal that the base, located in Pionersk, is part of the Tobol strategic electronic warfare network. The system integrates multiple surveillance, defense, and command platforms, designed both to shield Russian satellite communications and navigation from potential NATO attacks, and to degrade the Alliance’s intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Construction of the Królewiec (rus. Kaliningrad site), focused on satellite monitoring and overseen by Russia’s Ministry of Defence, officially began in 2009. Other complexes in the Tobol network are located in Serpukhov near Moscow, Penza, Cheboksary, and Ulan-Ude in Eastern Siberia beyond Lake Baikal.

The generated interference targets not only satellite positioning systems such as GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS, but also satellite communications platforms, including Starlink.

Neighbouring countries have reported aviation and maritime navigation issues since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with disruptions intensifying after 2023—forcing, in some cases, the rerouting of civilian aircraft. Warnings have also been issued for the Gulf of Finland after vessel crews reported navigation anomalies, ranging from inaccurate positional data to complete loss of signal.

In July, Estonian authorities disclosed that new jamming systems had been deployed just east of the border near Narva and the Narva Bay coast. Experts believe these systems are intended to protect Russian military and strategic infrastructure—including assets in the St. Petersburg area—from Ukrainian drone strikes by degrading satellite navigation signals.

Finland’s Ilta-Sanomat notes that Russia has been developing navigation jamming technology since the 1980s, when the West began fielding GPS-guided weaponry. The increasing deployment of NATO-supplied precision weapons by Ukraine has further driven Russia to enhance its capabilities for disrupting satellite-based targeting and communications.

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