Reports of widespread GPS disruptions are coming in from Poland
This summer in Poland, there has been a sharp increase in the number of disruptions affecting GPS and other satellite navigation systems. These issues are already impacting not only smartphones but also drones, transportation, shipping, and aviation. The Polish Telecommunications Institute states that the source of the interference is external and is linked to the operation of electronic warfare systems in the Baltic Sea region.
This is not the first time problems with satellite navigation have been reported in Poland. Anomalies have been observed since January 2024, but the situation changed dramatically in early 2026. According to data from the monitoring station of the Polish Telecommunications Institute in Gdańsk, prolonged interference across all GNSS bands was recorded on approximately 70% of days in May and June. There were very few completely uninterrupted days—only 10% in May and 13% in June.
In the first 19 days of August, widespread disruptions were already recorded on 63% of the days. In other words, navigation problems occurred on average about every two days. This isn’t just about GPS. Interference affects various global satellite navigation systems—GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou. When the signal is disrupted, a device may display an incorrect location, lose contact with satellites, or fail to calculate a route at all.
What’s Happening with Smartphones
Ordinary smartphone users are most likely to notice the problem. A map may suddenly show a person in the wrong location or stop calculating routes properly.
This can be particularly frustrating when traveling in unfamiliar areas. If a phone loses its satellite signal or receives incorrect coordinates, the driver or passenger may see a completely different location on the map.
These issues also affect urban and shared transportation services. For example, bicycles, scooters, or cars may not be displayed at their actual locations on the map. That’s why the Polish Institute of Telecommunications advises people not to rely solely on maps on their smartphones. Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to have offline maps downloaded and to keep traditional navigation methods in mind.
The problems are already affecting drones and ships
The consequences go far beyond mere inconvenience for phone users. Navigation disruptions complicate flights for civilian and commercial drones, which require precise coordinates for stable operation. The problem has also affected shipping. Due to a distorted signal, a ship may receive incorrect information about its location.
On August 21, 2026, the Polish minesweeper ORP Albatros experienced GPS jamming while operating in the Baltic Sea. The incident was confirmed by NATO’s Joint Force Command in Brunsum. In July, Polish stations in Pomerania recorded nearly 90 hours of interference. At that time, the problem particularly affected the L1 band, which is of great importance to civilian users.
Poland Points to an External Source of Interference
The Polish Telecommunications Institute states that the source of the problem is not within the country. According to its assessment, the disruptions are linked to the operation of electronic warfare systems in the Baltic Sea region. Experts emphasize that the interference is persistent and will likely continue as long as jamming systems are in use in the region. Independent companies conducting their own measurements have reached similar conclusions.
Separately, the Polish news site Interia reported that experts from Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdynia Maritime University, and the Institute of Telecommunications had, over the course of several months, traced the primary sources of interference and so-called spoofing to the Kaliningrad region. Spoofing differs from conventional jamming. In the case of jamming, the receiver effectively stops receiving the signal normally. During spoofing, however, an incorrect signal may be forced upon it, causing the device to determine incorrect coordinates.
This year, reports emerged in Lithuania regarding the expansion of spoofing infrastructure in the Kaliningrad region. According to published estimates, the number of antennas there could increase from a few at the beginning of 2025 to several dozen, and the potential area of influence could extend to hundreds of kilometers. It is important to note, however, that the link between specific sources of interference and Russia is based on assessments by experts and official bodies, not proof that every individual GPS failure was a deliberate Russian operation.
Why Poland Is Particularly Vulnerable
Poland is geographically close to the Kaliningrad Oblast. As a result, part of its territory falls within the range of electronic warfare systems, especially at certain altitudes. The problem is not limited to Poland. Similar incidents are regularly recorded in the Baltic, Scandinavian, and Black Sea regions. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden have also reported an increase in the number of incidents.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, such incidents have become noticeably more frequent. Western officials and experts have repeatedly linked some of the incidents to Russian electronic warfare systems. Russia, for its part, claims it uses such systems to defend against Ukrainian drones. However, the Baltic and Northern European countries emphasize that the scope of the interference extends far beyond the immediate combat zone and may pose risks to civilian infrastructure.
Poland is seeking ways to reduce its dependence on GPS
Polish experts are already working on systems that will allow for better tracking of such disruptions. In particular, the country is developing its own monitoring system based on the ASG-EUPOS network. There are also plans to create a separate network of sensors under the management of the Polish Space Agency. Its task will be to detect interference more quickly and determine where it is occurring.
This is important not only for ordinary users. Stable navigation is essential for aviation, shipping, drones, logistics, and a wide range of modern systems. For now, Polish experts advise treating GPS not as a completely infallible service, but as a system that can also fail. Therefore, offline maps, backup navigation methods, and basic orientation are once again becoming essential.
In the long term, Poland and other European countries are working to make navigation systems more resistant to jamming and spoofing. After all, the problem is no longer purely technical—it is directly linked to security in the Baltic region and the broader confrontation in Europe. Euronews reports on this.
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