Incident at Polish Starlink Satellite Station Linked to Russian Intelligence Services

Poland has accused Russia of being behind an arson attack on a Starlink satellite station in September, leading to the arrest of two Turkish citizens suspected of sabotage.

The incident occurred on September 23 in Wola Krobowska, about 40 kilometers south of Warsaw, where Starlink infrastructure was deliberately set on fire. The suspects were arrested in Germany and their names have been withheld under Polish privacy rules.

Poland's minister overseeing intelligence services, Tomasz Siemoniak, has stated that Russian intelligence services are behind the sabotage, citing an increasing reliance on individuals with ties to the criminal underworld. This move is seen as a tactic by Russia to carry out acts of hybrid warfare.

The incident in Poland forms part of a broader trend of suspected Russian sabotage and malign activity across Europe. According to Western officials, more than 210 incidents have been tracked since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has described the attack as "another act of hybrid warfare" in a recent post on X.

The plot to sabotage Starlink equipment in London last year has been linked to Russia's intelligence services by British prosecutors. The men found guilty of arson in March 2024 had targeted a warehouse containing Starlink units intended for Ukraine.

According to officials, the goal of such attacks is multifaceted: they aim to erode support for Ukraine, sow discord and fear among European societies, and divert resources away from investigating these incidents. Russia often employs proxies to carry out such operations.

Not all perpetrators are aware that they have been hired by Moscow, with some claiming ignorance about their true employer. This tactic allows Russia to deny direct involvement while still achieving its objectives through covert means.

Starlink's satellite communications system has become a crucial component of Ukraine's military operations, enabling commanders and soldiers to communicate and coordinate efforts seamlessly via satellite connectivity. However, Elon Musk has restricted the use of Starlink inside Russia itself.

Poland's Minister of State Assets, Jacek Siemoniak, stated at a Warsaw security conference that Russia's intelligence services are responsible for almost daily acts of subversion, including in Poland. He noted that this activity is particularly prevalent among countries supporting Ukraine.

Poland's defense minister emphasized that Russia's intelligence services have vast resources at their disposal and adapt their methods to evade detection.

This makes it challenging for authorities to counter subversive activity, as cutting off one lead does not necessarily eliminate the threat, according to Siemoniak.

Norway's director-general of the Police Security Service, Beate Gangås, also weighed in on the issue, comparing subversive activity to the legend of a dragon whose heads keep growing back, making it difficult to predict their next move.