Starlink station serving Ukraine likely torched in Poland
Illustrative photo: A Starlink station in Poland, which provides communications for Ukraine, was likely set on fire (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
On the evening of September 23, a fire broke out at a Starlink satellite ground station located in the Polish village of Wola Krobowska in the Masovian Voivodeship. One of the main lines of inquiry is arson, according to MF24.
Yesterday evening, the owner of the property where the communications infrastructure is located called the emergency services and reported that the antennas were on fire.
A power generator was also damaged. Firefighters arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the fire. The police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
Preliminary findings by authorities and law enforcement indicate that the substation was likely set on fire. A second possibility being considered is a short circuit in the electrical system.
According to Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, there are strong indications that this fire was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the station's operations.
The Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska is part of a satellite communications network.
Together with a station near Kaunas in Lithuania, it provides internet connectivity to a significant portion of Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
About ten antennas, each with a diameter of about two meters, are installed on the site. The station is located behind a metal fence.
Russian intelligence services have stepped up their activities against European infrastructure that provides aid to Ukraine. Among the Russian targets are railways, bridges, and borders.
