Poland says two Turkish citizens detained in Germany over Russia-linked Starlink station fire
Poland says two Turkish citizens have been detained in Germany over a fire at a Starlink station in central Poland that officials describe as sabotage carried out on Russia's behalf. The fire took place about a month earlier in Masovia, in eastern Poland, and damaged the station's power system and backup generator. Polish officials say the case is now moving into the criminal process in Poland.
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Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the two men will face sabotage charges in Poland and accused them of acting on the instructions of a foreign intelligence agency. Special Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said he had "no doubt" that Russian services were behind the attack. He also said Russian services were increasingly turning to people linked to the criminal underworld, although Polish officials did not say where or when the arrests in Germany took place.
German police made the arrests on behalf of Polish services, according to the information released by Warsaw. Polish officials said the fire was aimed at disrupting internet services, including communications used by Ukraine's military. Ukraine relies on tens of thousands of Starlink terminals for battlefield communications and some drone operations, making the network a sensitive part of the wider war effort.
The case comes amid broader concern in Europe about alleged Russian hybrid activity, including sabotage and other covert actions intended to weaken support for Ukraine. Polish officials have framed the incident as part of that pattern. Moscow has previously rejected similar accusations as unfounded, while the Russian embassy in Warsaw had not immediately responded to the latest allegations.
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The incident also highlights the strategic importance of Starlink in the war. The service was activated over Ukraine in 2022, days after Russia's full-scale invasion, after a request from Kyiv. Poland says it pays for Ukraine's Starlink subscription, underlining the country's role in supporting Ukrainian communications infrastructure.
What remains unclear is the exact role of the two detained men, the location of their arrest in Germany, and the evidence Polish authorities say links them to the fire. It is also not clear when they will be transferred to Poland or how quickly charges will be filed. The case is likely to be watched closely because it sits at the intersection of cross-border policing, alleged foreign sabotage and the security of communications used in the war in Ukraine.
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