Poland says two Turks arrested over Russia-linked Starlink station fire | Cybersecurity News
Two Turkish Citizens Arrested in Germany for Sabotage in Poland
Warsaw officials allege the suspects acted on behalf of Russian intelligence.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Two Turkish nationals have been arrested in Germany in connection with a fire at a Starlink station in central Poland, which Polish authorities have labeled as an act of sabotage orchestrated on behalf of Russia.
Polish officials announced the arrests on Monday, roughly one month after the incident, which they claim was intended to disrupt internet services, particularly for Ukraine’s military. The fire occurred in Masovia, Eastern Poland, damaging the station’s power system and backup generator.
Polish Minister of Interior Marcin Kierwinski stated that the suspects would face charges of sabotage—allegedly directed by a foreign intelligence agency. German law enforcement apprehended the men at the request of Polish authorities, although details surrounding the timing and location of the arrests have not been disclosed.
“We have no doubt that Russian services are behind this act of sabotage,” said Tomasz Siemoniak, the country’s Minister of Special Services, during a news briefing. He noted that Russian intelligence increasingly relies on individuals associated with organized crime.
This incident marks the latest in a series of events that EU officials suspect are part of a broader Russian strategy to undermine support for Ukraine through sabotage and hybrid warfare tactics.
The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not respond to a request for comment. Moscow has previously dismissed similar allegations as unfounded and a manifestation of anti-Russian sentiment.
Starlink, a satellite communication system, is crucial for the Ukrainian military, providing thousands of terminals for secure communications and drone operations. The service was enabled over Ukraine in 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion, following a request from the Ukrainian government. Poland has been funding Ukraine’s Starlink subscriptions since that time.
Elon Musk, the founder of Starlink, has had notable disagreements with Ukrainian officials regarding his perspectives on the war. Earlier this year, he agreed to deactivate many Russian “grey-market” Starlink terminals in Ukraine, which contributed to operational challenges for Russian forces. Ukraine is now seeking to utilize these terminals for potential strikes on Russian territory.
