Hybrid Attack on Ursula von der Leyen's Plane in Plovdiv

An extraordinary hearing of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov in the National Assembly today shed light on one of the most serious incidents related to national security recently - the alleged Russian hybrid attack against the plane of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The sudden disappearance of the GPS signal during the landing of the key European leader at Plovdiv Airport became a central topic of political debate and raised serious questions about the country's sovereignty and defense.

National Security in Question

The deputies began their plenary day with the first item on the agenda dedicated to the incident. The hearing of Prime Minister Zhelyazkov was requested at the suggestion of Atanas Atanasov from the parliamentary group of "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria". Earlier in the week, Atanasov made a direct request for the immediate dismissal of the acting chairman of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), Denyo Denev. He also insisted on an urgent convocation of the Security Council at the Council of Ministers to discuss in detail the topic, which he described as

"a hybrid Russian attack against the plane carrying the EC President".

These actions by the opposition representative underscore the seriousness of the situation and the views of a part of the political spectrum that this is a deliberate act aimed at destabilization.

Chronology of the Incident and International Reaction

The incident occurred in the context of the official visit of EC President Ursula von der Leyen to the country. On August 31, she, along with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, visited "Vazov Machine-Building Plants". A day later, on September 1, the topic gained international publicity after the authoritative British newspaper "The Financial Times" reported that an alleged Russian interference had led to disturbances in the GPS navigation of the European leader's plane. According to the newspaper, the incident took place near Plovdiv. In this regard, the Kremlin immediately denied any involvement, but such statements are often seen by the international community as part of a broader disinformation strategy aimed at concealing actions that undermine the security of other countries.

Official Confirmation and Investigation

Despite initial speculation, the press service of the Council of Ministers officially confirmed that the GPS signal disappeared during the landing approach of Ursula von der Leyen's plane at Plovdiv Airport. This official recognition turned the claims from an international newspaper into a confirmed fact that now requires a thorough investigation. The disappearance of the GPS signal on a plane carrying one of the highest-ranking European statesmen is not just a technical malfunction. It raises questions about potential foreign interventions that could endanger air security, undermine the state's sovereignty, and create a dangerous precedent in international relations. The hearing of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov in parliament is the first step towards clarifying the circumstances surrounding this alarming incident.

• hybrid attack
• Ursula von der Leyen
• national security
• Bulgaria
• Russia