Arson at Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska; Poland blames Russian intelligence

On the evening of 23 September 2026 perpetrators set fire to the control equipment of a Starlink satellite ground station in Wola Krobowska (Grójec County, Masovia). Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said the station is operated by state-owned telecoms operator Exatel. The National Prosecutor's Office is investigating acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, an act of sabotage and a terrorist-type offence. According to the Internal Security Agency (ABW), a prosecutor formulated charges against two Turkish citizens, Ümit E. and Müslüm T., on 7 October 2026. The Warsaw Regional Court issued European arrest warrants on 10 October, and Germany's BKA detained the two men in Baden-Württemberg on 12 October. A person who reconnoitred the site and sent photos and video via Telegram was detained in Poland and has been in pre-trial detention since 30 September.

Established by. National Prosecutor's Office, spokesperson Przemysław Nowak (25 Sep 2026, via PAP): 'w sprawie zachodzi uzasadnione podejrzenie, że sprawcy działali na polecenie rosyjskich służb specjalnych' ('there is a reasonable suspicion that the perpetrators acted on the orders of Russian special services'). Minister-coordinator of special services Tomasz Siemoniak (12 Oct 2026): 'Nie mamy wątpliwości, że za tym aktem dywersji stoją rosyjskie służby' ('We have no doubt that Russian services are behind this act of sabotage'). PM Donald Tusk (12 Oct): 'To kolejny akt wojny hybrydowej' ('This is another act of hybrid warfare'). ABW communiqué (16 Oct 2026): on 7 Oct a prosecutor of the National Prosecutor's Office (Masovian branch, Department for Organised Crime and Corruption) 'sformułował zarzuty wobec Umita E. i Musluma T. dotyczące działania na rzecz obcego wywiadu oraz dokonania aktu dywersji' ('formulated charges against Umit E. and Muslum T. of acting on behalf of foreign intelligence and committing an act of sabotage'). The ABW text itself speaks only of 'możliwych powiązań z rosyjskimi służbami specjalnymi' ('possible links to Russian special services').

Latest. As of 20 Oct 2026 the two charged men are in custody in Germany: a German court ordered their detention on 13 Oct pending surrender to Poland, which Polish media (RMF FM via Echo Dnia, 14 Oct) expect to take weeks. RMF FM reports that two further people were detained in Germany, including Diren A., 25, in Karlsruhe; this is unofficial and unconfirmed by prosecutors. On 25 Sep prosecutors said no one had yet been charged; charges came on 7 Oct.

Link to the war against Ukraine. Gawkowski said the Exatel station carries traffic within Poland and to Ukraine. Starlink is a core communications system for Ukraine's armed forces.