Poland blames Russian intelligence for Starlink station arson
Polish officials accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a Sept. 23 arson attack on a Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said two Turkish suspects were detained in Germany on Oct. 10 and described the incident as hybrid warfare. The station, operated by state-owned Exatel, carries internet traffic through Poland, including to Ukraine.
Polish officials linked the Sept. 23 blaze at a Starlink facility in Wola Krobowska, Masovian Voivodeship, to Russian intelligence. The site is run by state-owned Exatel and acts as an internet conduit through Poland, including toward Ukraine. Two Turkish nationals were held in Germany on Oct. 10 at Poland's request.
Tomasz Siemoniak, who coordinates Poland's special services, said Moscow's agencies were responsible and noted their growing use of people tied to organized crime. Earlier, Krzysztof Gawkowski suggested the fire may have aimed to disrupt connectivity used by Ukrainian troops. Poland is also examining an alleged plot against Tusk and Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The alleged sabotage could heighten public concern in Poland about infrastructure security and foreign interference. If such attacks recur, disruptions at Exatel's hub may affect internet traffic routed through Poland, potentially including services linked to Ukraine. The arrests and separate assassination inquiry may also increase scrutiny of security arrangements for officials and critical networks, though concrete societal effects remain uncertain.