Ukraine war: Russia blocks GPS signals in Ukraine

In an effort to cripple tracking and navigation in Ukraine, Russia apparently continues to jam the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation system in the Ukrainian war. This was stated by the US Space Force in a TV interview.

Ukraine war: GPS jammers deployed by Russia

Technology is an important factor in the Ukraine war. Drones, guided missiles, and aviation or navigation rely on the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation system. Apparently, however, the Russian invaders in Ukraine are using jammers to block the GPS signal.

At least that’s what General David Thompson, deputy chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), revealed in a TV interview with NBC. Even GPS signals in the civil aviation sector on Russia’s border with Finland are said to be jammed.

Ukrainians might not be able to use GPS because of jammers in operation that prevent the reception and use of GPS signals

Russia has its own satellite navigation system

The GPS satellite navigation system, provided free of charge by the United States, is used in almost every country in the world and is used in many areas. Russia (and China), on the other hand, do not rely on GPS satellites, because Russia uses its own developed Glonass system (Globalnaya nawigazionnaya sputnikovaya sistema), which is operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

So far, however, Russia has “only” jammed the GPS signal of satellites in orbit and has not attacked them directly, according to the USSF. However, it has fired a missile for test purposes to destroy one of its own satellites, NBS continues.

“They sent a pretty clear signal with that, about their intent to threaten our capabilities,” Thompson said. Since the start of the Ukraine war, reports have proliferated of Russian jamming GPS signals.

Virtually all areas where Russian troops are stationed or involved in combat operations have been jammed extensively to date. Of course, the Russian government under President Vladimir Putin knows nothing about this.