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Satellite Internet

Poland says fire at Starlink station was sabotage aimed at cutting Ukraine's internet

A fire at a Starlink ground station in central Poland was a deliberate act aimed at disrupting internet access for Ukraine's military, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said, suggesting Russian hybrid warfare — while Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged caution pending the investigation.

By James Calloway · · 1 min read

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski has called a fire at a Starlink satellite station in central Poland an act of sabotage, saying it was designed to disable the facility and disrupt internet access for institutions including the Ukrainian army.

The blaze broke out on the evening of 23 September at a station in Wola Krobowska, in the Mazovian Voivodeship. Gawkowski, who is also Digital Affairs Minister, told Polish public broadcaster TVP Info the fire engulfed the station’s power system and backup generator, and said “many indications” pointed to Russian hybrid warfare. The station, operated by state-owned telecom company Exatel, carries internet traffic through Poland — including to Ukraine — using SpaceX systems and Starlink terminals. It remains operational, and the investigation is ongoing.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk struck a more cautious note on 24 September, telling a news conference it was too early to determine whether the incident was sabotage or an accident. “I dislike labelling something as sabotage versus an accident without 100% certainty, but it looks bad,” he said.

Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in sabotage incidents in Poland since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has not publicly commented on this case. The fire came on the same day Poland temporarily evacuated border crossings with Ukraine during a Russian attack near the Polish border, and as Denmark’s intelligence service warned of a growing risk of Russian hybrid warfare against European countries.

Sources

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