Poland investigates suspected sabotage after fire at Starlink ground station serving Ukraine

A fire broke out late on Sept. 23 at a Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska in central Poland, damaging antennas and a power generator, according to Polish media and officials.

Polish services are investigating whether an electrical distribution unit was deliberately set on fire. An electrical short circuit is also being considered as a possible cause.

Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said there were indications that the fire may have been a deliberate attempt to disrupt the station.

The facility, together with a similar station near Kaunas in Lithuania, provides internet connectivity to large parts of Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.

Gawkowski said disabling such infrastructure could disrupt internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian military.

The station is operated by Exatel, Poland’s state-owned telecommunications company. Polish media reported that the Internal Security Agency and the Central Bureau of Police Investigation had been notified of the incident.

The station was operational again on Sept. 24.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as potentially part of a broader pattern of hybrid warfare. Polish officials said Russia’s responsibility had not been established, although Gawkowski said the circumstances appeared consistent with methods Warsaw has associated with Russian hybrid operations.

Poland has been on heightened alert for suspected sabotage since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in such activities.