On May 4, Moscow residents discovered that GPS services are malfunctioning in the city, according to Telegram channels Baza and Ateo Breaking. State broadcaster RBC reported that Russian Internet giant Yandex confirmed problems with GPS.
A Yandex representative said that issues with user location services could be due to a malfunction in the satellite systems that affect everything from navigation to fitness trackers. The company spokesperson noted that GPS failures are unrelated to Internet service issues, since apps are still receiving information, albeit incorrectly, from devices. He didn’t explain why devices might be transmitting incorrect location data.
Citing sources in law enforcement, Baza reports that Moscow has started jamming navigation services within two of the city’s inner rings. The channel says the changes in GPS functionality are related to upcoming Victory Day parades, which will take place on May 9.
Russian satellite navigation system GLONASS confirmed problems with GPS to publication the Daily Storm. The publication reported that the issues started “somewhere around 6:00 a.m.” on May 4. GLONASS did not specify the cause of the problems.
Telegram channel Ateo Breaking writes that problems with GPS systems displaying incorrect locations are cropping up across the city.
It’s unclear whether the GPS problems are related to a drone attack on the Kremlin, which took place in the early hours of May 3.
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