Alarm bells rang in Poland after a fire broke out late on the evening of September 23 at a Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska, about 40 kilometers south of Warsaw. The facility is part of the infrastructure used to carry internet traffic in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
The incident quickly took on geopolitical dimensions, with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski saying there were indications that the fire might have been intentional. He described the incident as a possible part of a broader effort hybrid warfare. However, authorities are still investigating the exact cause and it has not been established who was responsible.
The fire affected the power supply infrastructure
The fire broke out at approximately 21:07 local time, with the fire department sending three vehicles to the scene. Initial reports indicate that the flames mainly affected the electrical infrastructure , including power distribution and a generator. The fire was brought under control without any injuries.
Damage to the electrical infrastructure is of particular importance, as a satellite communications ground station does not operate independently of terrestrial networks. Stable power supply and interconnection with telecommunications infrastructure are essential to maintain service.
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The station is operated by the state-owned Polish telecommunications company Exatel and is an interconnection hub between the Starlink satellite infrastructure and terrestrial networks.
Arson or electrical failure?
Despite statements about possible sabotage, Polish authorities appear more cautious about the final conclusion. Initial assessments by firefighters reportedly consider arson ,but a problem with the electrical installation has not been ruled out.
The police have taken over the investigation, while the Polish Internal Security Service (ABW). According to Polish officials, all possible scenarios remain open. This means that until the investigation is completed, it cannot be assumed that this is an organized sabotage.
This distinction is important, as the presence of a fire in critical telecommunications infrastructure is not in itself evidence of a deliberate attack.
Why it matters for Ukraine
The facility in Wola Krobowska does not only serve Polish needs. Its location and its interconnection with regional networks make it part of a wider telecommunications infrastructure that also connects to Ukraine.
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The country relies heavily on Starlink for communications, especially after the full-scale Russian invasion. Satellite connectivity has proven crucial in areas where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged or is experiencing operational issues.
Gawkowski argued that a major outage at such a hub could have repercussions beyond the facility itself, affecting services that depend on telecommunications connections. The potential impacts he cited even include problems with critical day-to-day services such as ATMs.
Another example of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure
The incident highlights a broader issue that now concerns telecommunications security: the reliance on a combination of satellite and terrestrial infrastructure.
Starlink can provide connectivity from space, but the overall service still depends on ground stations, power supplies, data networks, and interconnect infrastructure. This means that the resilience of a satellite network is not determined solely by the satellites themselves.
At the same time, the incident brings back the debate in Europe on the need to create more alternative and dominant satellite communications infrastructures, so that critical services are not overly dependent on a single provider.
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Russian involvement remains unproven
Poland has previously accused Russia of sabotage on its territory since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. However, in this case, no public documentation has been presented to prove Russian involvement.
Gawkowski's statements place the incident in the broader context of hybrid threats, while other Polish officials point out that the investigation must consider all possibilities.
For now, the station has remained operational after the fire was extinguished, while Polish authorities continue to investigate the causes. Interest is now turning to the findings of the investigation, as they will show whether this was a technical incident or a deliberate act against an infrastructure of strategic importance to the region.
