Poland says Starlink station fire 'act of sabotage'
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said Warsaw believed the attack aimed to disrupt internet access for the Ukrainian military, calling it "an element of the next phase of hybrid warfare."
A fire recently occurred at a Starlink ground station near Warsaw, which plays a crucial role in providing internet connectivity to Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated that Polish security agencies are investigating whether the incident was intentional. The blaze broke out late on Wednesday at the facility in Wola Krobowska, part of the Grójec district in the Mazowieckie region.
No injuries were reported, and firefighters managed to control the flames. The station's systems were back online by Thursday. Gawkowski mentioned that the fire affected both power infrastructure and a generator at the site. Investigators are considering the possibility of sabotage as a cause. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, relies on a network of low-Earth orbit satellites connected to ground infrastructure and user terminals.
This system has proven invaluable for Ukraine as it aids in maintaining communications amidst Russian aggression and damage to regular telecommunications networks. Poland has consistently offered logistical and communication assistance to Ukraine since the country's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Reports suggest that previous incidents were potentially linked to Russian intelligence, a claim Russia has denied.
The station in question is one of several such facilities supporting Starlink traffic in Central and Eastern Europe.
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