Brief
Lithuania says arson at Starlink base near Vilnius was Russian‑linked sabotage
The attempted arson on Sunday early morning was quickly extinguished, with officials saying it aimed to undermine Ukraine's military communications.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Lithuanian authorities reported that an attempted arson at a SpaceX Starlink base station on the outskirts of Vilnius early Sunday (about 02:00 local time) was a sabotage act linked to Russia, intended to weaken Ukraine’s military communications.
What happened
The fire broke out around 02:00 local time on Sunday, prompting a rapid response that put out the flames and limited damage. The station continued operating after the incident.
What the reports add
Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre, said the incident was not a routine arson case but sabotage, and linked it to earlier fires at Starlink sites in Poland (September) and Bulgaria (Oct. 10). Polish officials had previously blamed Russia for a September fire that damaged power systems, while Bulgarian media reported multiple antennas set ablaze on Oct. 10.
What was said
Vitkauskas told reporters in Vilnius, “We understand that this was not a routine arson attack but an act of sabotage,” as quoted by Reuters. He added, “They are part of Russian attempts to disrupt Starlink and influence the success of Ukrainian operations. Ukraine is the target.” Moscow denied the accusations, calling them baseless.
How it came about
The incident follows a series of alleged Russian‑linked attacks on Starlink infrastructure across Europe, which Lithuania says form part of a broader effort to disrupt Ukraine’s battlefield communications. Earlier Felo coverage highlighted Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink for missile warnings and drone control.
Key facts
- The fire at the Starlink base near Vilnius occurred at about 02:00 local time on Sunday. (timesnownews.com)
- Lithuanian officials describe the incident as sabotage linked to Russia. (timesnownews.com)
- Similar Starlink fires were reported in Poland (September) and Bulgaria (Oct. 10). (timesnownews.com)
- Moscow denied the sabotage allegations, calling them baseless. (timesnownews.com)
Sources
- [1] timesnownews.com — originally reported as “'Ukraine Is the Target': Lithuania Links Starlink Fire to Russian Sabotage”
