Starlink floor station in Poland hit by hearth in suspected arson assault

A fireplace final night time at a floor station in Poland utilized by Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite tv for pc web firm, was triggered intentionally, says digital affairs minister Krzysztof Gawkowski.

The facility is used to offer web companies throughout the area, together with in Ukraine, which depends closely on Starlink connections. Although the hearth remains to be being investigated, “the modus operandi on this case is clearly Russian”, says Gawkowski.

Firefighters have been referred to as out at round 9 p.m. on Wednesday to the power, which is situated within the village of Wola Krobowska, simply south of the capital Warsaw. Due to suspicions that the hearth had been triggered intentionally, police and officers from the Internal Security Agency (ABW) have been additionally later dispatched to the scene.

“We’re coping with an arson assault that was meant to impression essential telecommunications transport systems that influences web operation,” Gakowski, who additionally serves as deputy prime minister, advised broadcaster TVN on Thursday morning.

In a separate interview with TVP, the minister mentioned that the power is owned by Polish state telecommunications operator Exatel and “offers web transmission via Poland, and likewise to Ukraine”.

He famous that different web suppliers use Exatel’s facility, together with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which is the proprietor of Starlink. Starlink terminals have been vital in Ukraine throughout Russia’s warfare in opposition to the nation.

 

Gawkowski advised TVN that “the modus operandi on this case is clearly Russian” and “is one other aspect of the hybrid warfare we face”. Poland has been one of many primary targets for Russian sabotage operations in Europe, together with a sequence of arson attacks.

“The Russians need to paralyse essential transport systems, minimize off water, fuel and electrical energy, paralyse the web,” mentioned the minister. “All these processes have one purpose: to incite panic and fire up feelings.”

However, in his remarks to TVP, Gakowski acknowledged that, for now, “it’s unimaginable to say” for certain whether or not Russia was behind the assault.

The spokesman for Poland’s safety companies, Jacek Dobrzyński, likewise advised TVN that “at this stage it’s nonetheless too early to speak concerning the causes or motives of this fireplace”. However, he confirmed that “every thing factors to arson”.

Justice minister Waldemar Żurek additionally advised broadcaster RMF that “this might be an act of sabotage, and we’re taking that under consideration, so nothing may be dominated out right here, particularly since these are delicate parts that guarantee satellite tv for pc communications”.

Polish information service Defence24 notes that floor stations are utilized by Starlink to attach its satellite tv for pc constellation with terrestrial communications transport systems. The facility in Poland, alongside one in Lithuania, serves the whole Central and Eastern Europe area, together with Ukraine.

Earlier this month, a fire broke out at a drone plant in Poland belonging to WB Electronics, which provides the armed forces of Ukraine and Poland, amongst others. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that there was “little question” the hearth was triggered intentionally, and that Russia was probably behind it.

The Polish authorities has in latest months warned that Russia is planning to escalate its hybrid actions in opposition to Poland and different international locations within the area, together with via acts of sabotage, disinformation, and potential airspace and border violations.

In July, a Russian missile entered Polish airspace earlier than touchdown in a discipline in jap Poland. On Wednesday this week, the identical day as the hearth in Wola Krobowska broke out, a Russian helicopter briefly entered Polish airspace.

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Main picture credit score: Komenda Główna Państwowej Straży Pożarnej (beneath CC BY-SA 4.0)