“High Probability of Sabotage.” Polish Minister on Fire at Starlink Station

Reform.news Editorial Team · 24 September 2026, 09:10

https://reform.news/en/high-probability-of-sabotage-polish-minister-on-fire-at-starlink-station/

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski said on the morning broadcast of TVPinfo that the fire at a Starlink ground station, which broke out late on Wednesday evening in the Masovian Voivodeship, was a new stage of hybrid warfare.

“There are already many indications that we are witnessing the next stage of hybrid warfare. We are dealing with a deliberate, targeted attempt to disrupt the operation of a key station that serves as an internet hub ensuring the security of internet operations in Ukraine.

The operator of this station is Exatel. It is a state-owned telecommunications operator, one of the elements ensuring internet security and facilitating the transmission of internet traffic through Poland, including to Ukraine.

SpaceX units that provide internet services in Ukraine through Starlink terminals also use this infrastructure. Thanks to this station, we also have internet security. The internet also works in Ukraine.

If such stations were shut down in Poland, if their operation were suspended due to fires or explosions, people would be left without internet, and if people had no internet, they would not be able, for example, to use ATMs”, he said.

According to Gawkowski, the fire damaged the generator supplying power to the station.

“The fire engulfed the power station, the electric generator, and it is clear that these acts of sabotage were aimed at disabling the station, meaning that the internet would not work, people would not be able to use their regular internet, so that some institutions, including the army, the Ukrainian army, would experience disruptions in internet access”, the minister added.

At the same time, he said, everything is operating today. There were definitely no disruptions in Poland; whether there were any abroad will be clarified later.

“The Internal Security Agency (ABW) is at the scene. Various versions are being investigated, but the method of operation in this case is consistent with how the Russians operate today. The principle of operation is to set fire to key national infrastructure facilities. Sabotage of critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure also includes the telecommunications market aspect — the availability of coverage or internet access. If it is not available, paralysis sets in”, Gawkowski explained.

The Internal Security Agency and police have so far not commented on the incident.

According to the fire service, the call from the settlement of Wola Krobowska was received at 21:07. Three rescue vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters found that a generator building was on fire. They disconnected the power and extinguished the fire. The scene was subsequently handed over to police.