German police have detained two Turkish citizens suspected of setting fire to a Starlink ground station in central Poland last month, an overnight arson attack that Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterized on October 12, 2026, as an act of hybrid warfare.
Cross-Border Arrests and Foreign Intelligence Links
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski confirmed the detentions, stating that the operation succeeded through direct cooperation between Polish police, Poland’s internal security agency (ABW), and German law enforcement services. German authorities took the two Turkish nationals into custody without specifying the exact location or timestamp of the apprehension within Germany. Tusk added that the suspects will face prosecution within the Polish justice system.
Polish officials charged the detained individuals with sabotage and espionage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. Special Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak asserted during a press conference covered by Reuters that Russian intelligence directed the operation. Siemoniak stated that Russian services increasingly rely on individuals connected to the criminal underworld to carry out disruptive acts across Europe.
Targeting Ukrainian Military Communications
The targeted satellite internet station sits in the Masovia province of central and east-central Poland. State-owned telecommunications company Exatel owns the facility, which routes internet traffic through Polish territory to multiple institutions, including the Ukrainian armed services.
The arson occurred overnight in late September, heavily damaging the station’s power system and backup generator. Despite the destruction, Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski reported to public broadcaster TVP Info the following day that the facility remained operational. Gawkowski stated that the saboteurs deliberately designed the attack to disable the installation and disrupt connectivity for the Ukrainian military.
Escalating European Regional Tensions
European Union member states have issued repeated warnings regarding a rise in Russian hybrid warfare tactics, including sabotage and cyberattacks aimed at undermining support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Tusk warned last month that Russian military planning encompasses hybrid drone and missile strikes directed against Kyiv’s Western allies.
Moscow Denies Allegations as Disinformation
Moscow has consistently rejected allegations of hybrid warfare and systemic sabotage, dismissing European official statements as anti-Russian rhetoric and disinformation. Poland serves as the primary logistical hub for Western military and humanitarian aid entering Ukraine. Elon Musk activated Starlink services across Ukraine in 2022 following urgent requests from Kyiv, with the Polish government funding the country’s ongoing Starlink terminal subscriptions.
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