Poland announced the arrest of 2 Turkish citizens in Germany in connection with the Starlink station fire last month

Polish authorities have announced the arrest of two Turkish citizens in Germany in connection with the claim of a Starlink station last month. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the fire an act of "hybrid warfare".

Poland: Germany arrested 2 people in connection with the Starlink fire

10/12/2026 October 12, 2026 Polish authorities have announced the arrest of two Turkish citizens in Germany in connection with the alleged sabotage of the Starlink station last month. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the fire an act of "hybrid warfare".

Two Turkish nationals have been arrested in Germany in connection with a fire at a Starlink station in Poland last month, Polish authorities said on Monday.

Starlink satellite internet service is widely used by Poland's neighboring Ukraine's military amid the Russian invasion.

Officials from several EU countries have warned of Russia's escalating sabotage, cyber and hybrid attacks across Europe aimed at undermining support for Ukraine or directly affecting it.

Polish authorities did not specify exactly where and when the two men were detained in Germany.

What did Poland say about the arrests and the case?

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kirwinski announced the arrests on Monday, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was arrested soon after.

He said on social networks: "On behalf of the Polish services, the German police arrested two Turkish citizens suspected of setting fire to the Starlink station in Mazovia. This is another form of hybrid warfare. The vandals will be held accountable by the Polish judicial system.

Mazovia is a province that includes Warsaw, the capital of Poland, not far from Poland's eastern borders to Belarus and Ukraine.

Polish Minister of Special Services Tomasz Simoniak claimed that Russia was behind the incident.

He also said in a press conference: "It is worth noting that Russian services are increasingly turning to people connected to the criminal world for such attacks."

Russia usually dismisses European claims of hybrid warfare or systemic sabotage as anti-Russian hysteria or misinformation.

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