Lithuania Foils Attempted Arson Attack on Facility Housing Starlink Equipment

Unidentified individuals attempted to set fire to a facility in Lithuania housing Starlink satellite communications equipment overnight on October 18. The attack was prevented by heightened security measures, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said.

According to the prime minister, Lithuanian security services had warned the company in advance about a potential threat. Security was subsequently reinforced, allowing the attempted attack to be thwarted.

Sinkevičius said the facility supports the operation of nine Starlink antennas used to provide satellite communications for Ukraine.

According to the prime minister, the attempted arson took place at around 2 a.m. Flammable liquids and containers that may have been intended for use in the attack were found at the scene.

Authorities have opened a preliminary investigation and are working to identify those involved and any possible organizers.

Sinkevičius linked the incident to Russia's hybrid warfare against Europe and pointed to similar incidents in other countries, including Poland and Bulgaria.

However, the alleged Russian involvement remains the Lithuanian prime minister's assessment rather than an established finding of the investigation.

No direct connection has been proven between the September arson attack on a Starlink station in Poland and the attempted attack on the Lithuanian facility.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed that the attempted attack had been prevented and that the circumstances were under investigation.

The prime minister scheduled a meeting of the National Security Commission for October 19. Officials are expected to discuss both the attempted arson and a separate incident involving an unidentified aerial object detected over Lithuania on the morning of October 18.

No evidence has been presented linking the two incidents.