Starlink antennas providing satellite communication with Ukraine set on fire in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is investigating an alleged act of sabotage against Starlink satellite communication infrastructure. At a facility near Sofia, unknown individuals set fire to 11 of 17 antennas intended for communication with SpaceX satellites. This system is widely used in Ukraine, including for military purposes.
The incident was reported by Bulgarian parliament member and co-chairman of the "Yes, Bulgaria" party, Ivaylo Mirchev. On October 14, the country's Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed the investigation, but refused to disclose details, according to the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).
According to Mirchev, two masked men broke into a guarded facility in the Sofia region and deliberately set fire to the equipment. The politician stated that the damaged antennas provided an important communication channel with the Starlink orbital constellation.
The MP drew attention to the nature of the attack. In his opinion, the perpetrators may have intentionally targeted equipment of key importance to the satellite network's operation. However, there are no official investigative conclusions about the motives of the alleged arson yet.
Mirchev also emphasized that the Starlink system is widely used by the Ukrainian military. Satellite communication helps maintain internet access in areas where traditional telecommunications infrastructure is damaged or absent.
At the same time, it has not yet been established whether the damaged antennas directly served Ukrainian users. Information about disruptions in Starlink's operation in Ukraine as a result of the incident has not been confirmed.
After reports of the arson emerged, Mirchev and another MP from "Democratic Bulgaria", Bozhidar Bozhanov, demanded explanations from the State Agency for National Security (SANS) and the Ministry of Interior.
The parliamentarians raised the question of whether Bulgarian intelligence services had prior information about the preparation of the attack and what measures were taken to prevent possible sabotage.
Opposition MPs also criticized the government for the lack of public statements about the incident. According to Mirchev, the public learned about the alleged arson not from law enforcement agencies, but from his statement.
On October 14, the circumstances of the incident were discussed in the Bulgarian parliament during hearings with the participation of government and intelligence representatives.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that the investigation is being conducted intensively and involves foreign partners. According to him, prematurely disclosing established circumstances could hinder law enforcement.
"An investigation is underway, it is extremely intensive. I urge the SANS chairman not to disclose details yet," Radev said.
The head of government emphasized that the police and intelligence services are aiming to complete the investigation successfully, and its results should appear soon. He also assured the MPs that the situation is under control.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev announced increased security at similar facilities in Bulgaria. He also clarified that primary responsibility for their safety rests with the infrastructure owners.
According to The Sofia Globe, SANS Chairman Plamen Tonchev informed parliamentarians that the facility where the fire occurred is privately owned. Officials acknowledged the need for additional security measures for critical infrastructure.
A separate subject of parliamentary discussion was possible Russian involvement. Opposition representatives demanded that the government assess this theory, pointing to a similar incident in Poland.
However, Radev refused to publicly name alleged perpetrators until the investigation is completed. No official evidence of Russian intelligence involvement in the Bulgarian incident has been presented yet.
A similar incident occurred in Poland. In September, a fire broke out at a ground Starlink station in the Masovian Voivodeship. The fire damaged the power supply system and the backup generator of the facility.
Polish authorities considered the incident an alleged act of sabotage aimed at disrupting internet connectivity, including that used by the Ukrainian armed forces.
On October 12, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the arrest in Germany of two Turkish citizens suspected of involvement in the station arson. The arrest was carried out at the request of Polish law enforcement.
The next day, it became known that another suspect was detained in Berlin. Thus, three people were arrested in the Polish case. Polish authorities link the incident to Russia's hybrid actions.
Mirchev pointed out the similarity between the two attacks and demanded that Bulgarian intelligence services establish whether there is a connection between them. However, there is no confirmed information about coordination between the incidents in Poland and Bulgaria.
As of October 14, Bulgarian authorities have not reported any arrests of suspects in the antenna arson case, the extent of damage, or the timeline for equipment restoration. SpaceX has also not provided a public assessment of the incident's impact on the satellite network's operation.
Based on materials from: Ivaylo Mirchev, BNR News, Bulgarian National Television, The Sofia Globe, Bulgarian National Radio.