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Poland calls Starlink station fire sabotage
The station is operating again, but Poland is investigating whether the fire was deliberate.
What happened
A fire late Wednesday damaged the power station and backup generator at a Starlink ground station in Poland’s Masovian region. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski called it sabotage intended to interrupt connectivity, including for Ukraine’s military. The systems resumed operation, while police began an investigation.
Numbers
- Tens of thousandsStarlink terminals used in Ukraine — Used for battlefield communications
- 40 kmStation’s distance from Warsaw — Reported location
Questions
- Who operates the ground station?
- The station belongs to Exatel, Poland’s state-owned telecommunications company, and carries internet traffic through Poland toward neighbouring Ukraine.
- Why does Ukraine need Starlink?
- Ukraine uses Starlink terminals for battlefield communications and some drone operations, making network continuity important to military units.
- What does hybrid warfare mean?
- It refers to non-military pressure, such as cyberattacks, sabotage or misinformation, intended to destabilise an adversary rather than conventional combat.
- How was the site protected?
- The facility was privately operated and had video surveillance but no physical guard, according to Gawkowski, at the time.
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The catch
The investigation has not identified who caused the fire; an electrical fault remains possible.
No perpetrator has been named.