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An attempt was made to set fire to a Lithuanian company storing Starlink communications equipment overnight on October 18, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said, adding that Russia was likely behind the incident.
“Another incident occurred shortly after midnight today — an attempt was made to set fire to a Lithuanian company storing Starlink communications equipment,” Sinkevičius wrote on Facebook. He said authorities had warned the company about possible attacks and increased security, but the attempt failed.
According to the prime minister, the company provides connectivity for nine Starlink satellite antennas used by Ukraine. Similar incidents have occurred in Poland and Bulgaria, he said.
“Shortly before 2 a.m., containers of flammable liquids were found at the scene, ranging in size from three to five liters up to a 10-liter canister,” Sinkevičius said. He described the incident as a suspected act of sabotage and part of Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign across Europe, adding that Russia was a likely instigator.
Sinkevičius said the identities of the people suspected of attempting the arson were already known and expressed hope that they would be arrested soon.
Lithuanian National Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas also confirmed the incident but said he could not provide further details at this stage.
The prime minister has called a meeting of the National Security Commission for Monday to investigate the attempted arson.
On September 23, a fire broke out at a Starlink ground station in Poland’s Mazovia region. The facility in Wola Krobowska, together with a similar station near Kaunas in Lithuania, provides internet access to much of Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
Earlier this week, it was reported that 11 of 17 Starlink antennas at a high-security site near Sofia, Bulgaria, had been set on fire. The antennas provide key links to satellites used in Ukraine.
