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Airline Finnair has said it is pausing flights to Tartu in eastern Estonia for the next month, due to GPS disturbances in the area.

“Finnair will suspend its daily flights to Tartu, Estonia, from 29 April to 31 May, so that an alternative approach solution that does not require a GPS signal can be put in place at Tartu Airport,” the Finnish airline said in a statement.

Finnair last week had to divert two flights back to Helsinki after GPS interference prevented the approach to Tartu airport, although a spokesperson said the company did not now where the interference came from.

However, Tallinn seems certain as where the issues are originating. 

“It is a fact that Russia affects GPS devices in our region’s airspace,” Estonia’s foreign minister said via a spokesperson.

Margus Tsahkna added that Estonia will raise the issue of GPS interference with its neighbours, and intends to discuss it with the EU and NATO. 

GPS jamming and spoofing have grown worse in eastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East, all areas close to conflict zones, according to industry group OpsGroup. 

Two killed in another Russian strike

At least two people have been killed in another Russian strike, this time targeting the northeastern city of Kharkiv, local officials say.

Six more have been wounded in the attack, which Governor Oleh Synehubov says was carried out using guided bombs, according to preliminary information.

The attack damaged a residential building in one of the city districts, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. 

Emergency services are on the scene, local officials say.

Yesterday, a woman was reportedly injured after a “series of explosions” hit the city, according to the mayor.

Russia denies targeting civilians in the war that is now in its third year.

Fire at oil depot after drone strikes – reports

Ukraine launched drones on several Russian regions overnight, Russian officials are saying this morning, with Russian news outlets reporting a fire at the Ryazan oil refinery after the attack.

Pavel Malkov, governor of the Ryazan region in western Russia, said there were no injuries in the drone attacks there.

But Russian Telegram channel Baza, which is close to the security services, said the attack sparked a fire at the Ryazan refinery.

“Eyewitnesses reported that a rumble was heard, and then two explosions occurred,” the channel reported.

“Operational services employees are currently working at the oil refinery. According to preliminary data, no victims.”

The refinery, owned and run by Rosneft, refines about 5.8% of Russia’s total refined crude. 

It has been a frequent target for Ukraine’s air attacks.

The governors of the Kursk and Voronezh regions in southwest Russia that border Ukraine also reported drone attacks on their territories, saying there was no damage or injuries.

Russia rarely discloses information about the full impact of Ukraine’s attacks on its territory and infrastructure.

MEZIESBLOG cannot independently verify the reports.