A fire that broke out overnight at a Starlink satellite communications station in central Poland is being treated as an act of sabotage, the country's digital affairs minister said on Thursday. The incident, which occurred in the village of Wola Krobowska, has heightened concerns about Russian hybrid tactics targeting critical infrastructure.
Krzysztof Gawkowski told Polish public broadcaster TVP Info that the blaze was "deliberately designed to disable the station" and disrupt internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian army. He added that the fire started late on Wednesday and that the facility, operated by state-owned telecoms company Exatel, was still functioning.
"There is much to suggest that we are dealing with an element of the next phase of hybrid warfare," Gawkowski said. The station is used to transmit internet traffic through Poland, including to Ukraine, and also supports SpaceX's Starlink terminals, which provide connectivity in the region.
Investigation underway
The fire primarily affected the power station, distribution board, and a generator. Firefighters brought the situation under control, extinguished the flames, and secured the area. No injuries were reported, and police have taken over the investigation.
Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for the Minister-Coordinator of Special Services, told TVN24 and Zero.pl that officers were conducting inspections and collecting evidence. However, he cautioned against jumping to conclusions: "Not all arson, not all disasters, are acts of sabotage." He noted that various scenarios, from deliberate arson to an electrical short circuit, remain under consideration. "It's too early to talk about sabotage," he added.
Poland, a NATO and EU member on the alliance's eastern flank, has repeatedly accused Russia of sabotage since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country has become the main hub for transporting Western military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv, making it a prime target for Russian hybrid operations.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia's war plans include "hybrid" drone and missile strikes against Kyiv's allies. This latest incident aligns with those warnings, as Polish authorities remain on high alert for attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure.
The station's continued operation is a relief, but the incident underscores the vulnerability of digital infrastructure in the region. As Poland bolsters its defenses, the investigation will be crucial in determining whether this was a one-off attack or part of a broader campaign.
For now, the focus is on securing the site and preventing further incidents. The Polish government has not yet officially blamed Russia, but the minister's remarks suggest that hybrid warfare is a leading hypothesis. The coming days will likely bring more clarity as forensic teams analyze the evidence.
