Starlink station fire in Poland investigated as sabotage

Polish prosecutors are investigating a fire at a Starlink ground station in the village of Wola Krobowska as an act of sabotage and a terrorist-related crime. Investigators suspect the arson may have been carried out on the orders of Russian secret services.

As reported by Polish news agency PAP, prosecutor Przemysław Nowak, spokesperson for the National Prosecutor's Office, said criminal proceedings had been opened "regarding acts committed on 23 September this year in the village of Wola Krobowska in the interests of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland, as well as the commission of sabotage and a terrorist-related crime by causing a fire at a Starlink satellite communications ground station, resulting in significant property damage".

He also said that, based on the information available at the time, the fire had been caused by arson.

"Furthermore, in this case there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the perpetrators acted on the orders of Russian secret services and in the interests of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland. The aim of their actions was to disrupt the operation and internet connectivity of the Starlink system in Poland and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe," he said.

Nowak said that on Thursday, prosecutors carried out the necessary activities at the scene, including an examination of the site and interviews with witnesses. The activities were conducted jointly with officers of the Internal Security Agency and the Central Bureau of Police Investigation.

"An investigation is underway in this case. No one has been charged so far," Nowak added.

The investigation has been assigned to the Internal Security Agency and the Central Bureau of Police Investigation.

The fire at the Starlink satellite communications ground station in the Polish village of Wola Krobowska broke out on the evening of 23 September.

Commenting on the incident, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that he "does not like to make definitions without 100% certainty as to what constitutes sabotage and what is an accident", but added that "it does not look good".