Since April, Finland’s Coast Guard has observed persistent disruptions to satellite navigation signals in the Baltic Sea, particularly affecting the Gulf of Finland.
These disruptions, believed to be caused by Russian interference, have complicated maritime navigation, with some ships veering off course or getting lost. Finland’s interior minister Lulu Ranne stated that Finnish authorities attribute these Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and GPS disturbances to Russia, Reuters reports. Furthermore, the Finland’s Coast Guard said the disturbances have led to malfunctions in vessels’ Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), which enable electronic navigation.
According to Reuters, Coast Guard Commander Pekka Niittyla noted that this spoofing, observed about ten times recently, seems intended to mask Russian oil shipments and avoid sanctions imposed by Western nations. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, sanctions, including price caps on Russian oil, have aimed to limit Moscow’s revenue from oil sales.
Spoofing may help sellers or buyers hide Russian origins of oil shipments. Finland also suspects Russia is jamming signals to protect its oil ports in the Gulf of Finland from Ukrainian attacks, including possible drone or air strikes.
Finland’s Coast Guard worries that dark fleet tankers could cause spills in the Baltic Sea, a vulnerable ecosystem. Winter conditions, known for storms and ice, heighten the risks posed by the disrupted navigation and the presence of unidentified tankers, making the situation even more precarious for maritime safety and environmental protection in the region, Reuters concludes.
