Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski says authorities suspect sabotage after a fire broke out at a ground-based Starlink satellite communications station in central Poland.
The fire occurred late Wednesday at the facility in Wola Krobowska, which helps provide internet connectivity across parts of Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters, while the incident was reported to Poland’s Internal Security Agency and Central Bureau of Investigation.
Gawkowski said the station’s systems have since been restored and are fully operational. He said the fire damaged the facility’s power supply and generator, circumstances that raised concerns about possible deliberate interference.
He added that a disruption at the facility could have affected internet access for several institutions, potentially including the Ukrainian military and its communications.
“Although the systems are fully operational today, we must acknowledge, as Prime Minister Tusk recently pointed out, that this forms part of hybrid warfare,” Gawkowski said.
Poland has remained on heightened alert over possible acts of sabotage since Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in sabotage incidents.
Gawkowski said investigators had not established that Russia was responsible for the fire. However, he said “many signs suggest this aligns with Russia’s new doctrine of attack.”
Goodness Anunobi
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