Fire damages Starlink ground station in Poland as security services probe suspected arson

Emergency response in Wola Krobowska

On Wednesday evening, 23 September 2026, a fire broke out at a Starlink satellite ground station located in Wola Krobowska, in the Grójec district of Mazovia, Poland. Emergency dispatchers received an emergency call at 21:07 from the owner of the private property where the communications infrastructure is installed. The property owner initially alerted emergency responders to a fire affecting the antenna installation. Three fire brigade teams from the State Fire Service were dispatched to the scene and managed to bring the flames under control rapidly. The blaze damaged the protective casing of a power distribution box, a power generator, and antenna components within the perimeter. Officials confirmed that no persons were injured during the fire, and the incident did not cause widespread disruptions across the satellite network.

Security services launch joint investigation

Following the extinguishing of the flames, police officers and specialized units secured the perimeter of the facility. Forensic technicians began gathering physical evidence from the damaged electrical hardware, while prevention officers and provincial police headquarters staff patrolled the surrounding area. Given the strategic nature of the telecommunications hub, Polish authorities notified the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Central Investigation Bureau of Police (CBŚP). Firefighters and investigators identified suspected arson targeting the electrical switchboard as one of the primary operational hypotheses, while also maintaining an inquiry into whether an electrical short circuit caused the incident.

Junior Captain Michał Maroszek from the Grójec County Headquarters of the State Fire Service outlined the emergency response at the site.

A fire occurred near the antenna installation of an information technology company. Three fire brigade units were dispatched to the scene. The fire was extinguished. Further activities at the site were conducted by the police.

Strategic role in regional connectivity

The ground base in Wola Krobowska serves as a key node in the regional satellite internet grid operated by Starlink. The site hosts over a dozen characteristic white spherical antennas, each measuring roughly two metres in diameter and enclosed behind a tin metal fence. Alongside a similar ground station operating near Kaunas in Lithuania, the Wola Krobowska base provides satellite internet coverage across broad areas of Central and Eastern Europe. This satellite connectivity has served both Ukrainian civilians and military units since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, maintaining vital communications links across regions affected by power and infrastructure disruptions.

Ongoing forensic examinations

Security personnel and electrical experts continue to conduct forensic examinations to resolve the exact cause of the fire. Specialists are reviewing the condition of the damaged power generator and the switchboard casing to establish whether a technical malfunction or external interference triggered the ignition. Polish police and counterintelligence services have maintained surveillance of the area while technical teams verify the operational status of all individual antenna spheres. Investigators have not released official conclusions regarding the origin of the blaze as joint inquiries between local police, the ABW, and the CBŚP proceed.