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Warsaw/Berlin/Nürtingen – A significant development has occurred in the suspected sabotage case involving a Starlink ground station in Poland. Two Turkish citizens were arrested on Monday in Nürtingen, Germany. The Polish government accuses them of involvement in an arson attack on a facility crucial for Ukraine.
Sabotage Allegations and Russian Suspicions
The men are expected to be charged with sabotage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, with suspicions pointing towards Russia as the mastermind behind the operation. According to BILD information, a SEK (Special Deployment Commando) raid also took place on Monday in the Staaken district of Berlin. During this operation, a suspected accomplice of the alleged perpetrators was apprehended on Blasewitzer Ring, and his Mercedes vehicle was subsequently examined by forensic experts. He is believed to have been the driver for the two alleged saboteurs.
Tusk: ‘Act of Hybrid Warfare’
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (69) stated on X that the arrests were made by German police at the behest of Polish security agencies. The suspects are believed to have set fire to the Starlink station in the Masovian administrative district. Tusk described the incident as “another act of hybrid warfare,” emphasizing that the alleged saboteurs must face Polish justice.
The case has garnered significant attention for weeks. On the evening of September 23, the Starlink ground station near Warsaw was damaged by fire. Authorities reported that the power supply and an emergency generator were hit. No injuries were reported, and the facility, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk (55), was temporarily out of service but later resumed operations.
Immediately after the fire, Polish investigators suspected a possible act of sabotage. The facility holds particular importance as the Starlink network is also utilized by Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, the Ukrainian military has relied on satellite connections for communication and drone operations. Poland reportedly covers the costs of many Starlink subscriptions for Ukraine.
Russia Denies Accusations
Warsaw has significantly escalated its rhetoric. Polish Minister for Special Services, Tomasz Siemoniak (59), stated that there was “no doubt” that Russian services were behind the sabotage. He also claimed that Russian intelligence agencies are increasingly recruiting individuals from criminal circles. No public evidence has been presented to support these allegations. A statement from the Russian embassy was not immediately available. Moscow consistently denies accusations of Russian sabotage and destabilization efforts in Europe, regularly referring to an “anti-Russian hysteria.”
Investigations in Poland and Germany are ongoing. A statement from the German Federal Criminal Police Office, which is responsible in Germany, was not immediately available. The arrest in Nürtingen was first reported by the Schwäbische Zeitung.
Source: https://www.bild.de/news/inland/berlin-zwei-festnahmen-nach-feuer-an-polnischer-starlink-station-6acd387c8776d79fbd9cab9c
