Sabotage suspected in Polish Starlink facility fire | NHK WORLD

Sabotage suspected in Polish Starlink facility fire

A fire has broken out at a facility related to the satellite internet service Starlink in Poland. The Polish government has indicated that Russia may be involved in what appears to be an act of sabotage.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at a Starlink station in a town near the capital Warsaw. Starlink is run by US businessman Elon Musk.The facility's power system and other infrastructure were damaged.

Starlink has also been in operation in Ukraine since Russia launched its military invasion four years ago.

Speaking to local media on Thursday, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski expressed the view that the fire was an act of sabotage carried out by someone. He added that the move was designed to cut off the internet so that people and institutions, including the Ukrainian military, would have their connection disrupted.

He also noted that although it cannot be said for certain that Russia was involved, there is much to suggest that the incident fits into the new Russian doctrine of attack.

Acts of sabotage, in which Russia's involvement was suspected, have previously been carried out in Poland. The Polish government blamed Russia for an arson attack on a shopping center in Warsaw in May of 2024, and for the destruction of part of a rail track that links the country and Ukraine last November.