Two arrested in Bulgaria, Poland Starlink fires linked to suspected sabotage network
German-passport holders detained in Bulgaria over October 9 fire; investigators probe connection to Poland attack and possible larger Russian-backed operation.
What to know
- Investigators suspect two separate Starlink attacks—in Poland (September 23) and Bulgaria (October 9)—are part of a coordinated sabotage network, with arrests in both countries and Germany.
- Polish and Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian intelligence behind the attacks, though Bulgaria's prime minister has avoided explicit attribution; Starlink infrastructure is critical to Ukraine's defense.
- Debate centers on whether governments or private corporations bear responsibility for securing Starlink facilities against state-sponsored sabotage.
The dispute Should SpaceX/private companies or governments bear the primary cost and responsibility for defending Starlink facilities against state-sponsored sabotage? · positions read across 16 posts and comments
SpaceX/private companies should secure their own facilities; governments are blaming corporate owners to avoid naming Russia.
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“It seems absurd that the government is blaming SpaceX for not securing its property against trespass and vandalism/arson, especially when it seems likely that the violations are by foreign-state-sponsored actors.”
nickff · Hacker News ↗
Shared responsibility: companies should invest in security, but governments must provide baseline protection against state actors.
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“If I open something like a stadium… arguably most of the security should be paid for from ticket sales, rather than the taxpayer, although the taxpayer should be there as the final backstop.”
michaelt · Hacker News ↗
Bulgaria's government is deliberately avoiding naming Russia as the perpetrator to maintain diplomatic relations.
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“Demerdzhiev, Radev and their entire cabinet in general just avoid blaming Russia for some 'unknown' reason as a blanket policy.”
bobbyraduloff · Hacker News ↗
SpaceX bears responsibility by actively supporting one side in the war; corporations becoming war targets is a concerning trend.
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“SpaceX is actively meddling in foreign-state wars picking whichever side they choose to support on which day. They made their bed.”
ProAm · Hacker News ↗
Rumen Radev Bulgarian Prime MinisterPlamen Tonchev Head of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security (DANS)Ivan Demerdzhiev Bulgarian Interior MinisterPolish government Warsaw authoritiesDemocratic Bulgaria Pro-Western opposition alliance
How it unfolded 0 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump
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Polish government suspects Russian intelligence behind attacks; Bulgaria confirms sabotage — The Polish government officially suspects Russian intelligence services were behind the Poland attack. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirms the Sofia fire and Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security calls it sabotage, though Radev provides no further details pending investigation.
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Two suspected saboteurs arrested in Germany for Poland Starlink attack — Two men suspected of carrying out the September 23 Starlink attack in Poland are arrested on Tuesday in Nürtingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. Investigators examine whether the German and Bulgarian suspects are part of the same sabotage network.
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Democratic Bulgaria opposition reveals Sofia fire; two German-passport holders detained — Bulgaria's pro-Western opposition alliance Democratic Bulgaria makes the October 9 fire public. Two men aged 20 and 21, both holding German passports, are arrested in Bulgaria on Monday in connection with the attack. They had legally entered Bulgaria from Greece.
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Fire deliberately set at Sofia Starlink facility, destroying 11 antennas — A Starlink facility near Bulgaria's capital Sofia is attacked, with 11 of 17 antennas deliberately set on fire. The antennas were being used to support Ukraine's defense against Russian invasion.
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Fire breaks out at Starlink ground terminal near Warsaw — A Starlink facility south of Warsaw is attacked. The incident becomes part of a pattern later investigators suspect is coordinated sabotage.
What people are saying 16 voices from 1 site · verbatim
- Is Bulgaria's government deliberately avoiding naming Russia to maintain diplomatic relations?
- How can private companies defend against military-grade state-sponsored sabotage without military resources?
- Today
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Ukrainian drones and missiles are using Starlink to navigate through Russian territory, and Russia is organizing these attacks to defend itself against them.
- Yesterday
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Meanwhile today's episode of Slow Horses, a British show, implied that Bulgaria is Russia's friend who will totally accept their plane with a spy and facilitate killing her on "neutral ground"Sometimes u wonder how does the "West" get consistently so ignorant and/or lazy with their writing about the "East".
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Bit of one, bit of the other.If I open something like a stadium, and whenever there's a big game I need a load of security to deal with traffic, drunk fans, and fights - arguably most of the security should be paid for from ticket sales, rather than the taxpayer, although the taxpayer should be there as the final backstop.Likewise, if I have a…
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Who else is very concerned that corporations are becoming valid war targets lately? I get that when a corporation is assisting a war effort it a combatant (corporate personhood etc..) but I work for a corporation and I don't want to be a valid war target.
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While the article deals with the topic that is not funny at all, I am amused by people having somewhat ironic names:> Plamen Tonchev, head of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security (DANS) said he believed the fire at the Starlink facility was an act of sabotage."Plamen" means "Flame", when translated from most Slavic languages (incl…
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> federal agenciesIt's cute when Americans assume every country's constitution is the same as their own.
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I don't know why it should be the governments job to secure private properties of corporations against vandalism/arson. It sounds much more absurd to me.Starlink providing services to a customer (which made them a target in this case) is not a matter the local government of that site needs to protect them against.--> Is it a local governments' job…
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> It seems absurd that the government is blaming SpaceX for not securing its property against trespass and vandalism/arson, especially when it seems likely that the violations are by foreign-state-sponsored actors.SpaceX is actively meddling in foreign-state wars picking whichever side they choose to support on which day. They made their bed.
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Demerdzhiev, Radev and their entire cabinet in general just avoid blaming Russia for some “unknown” reason as a blanket policy. Yesterday, Russia bombed two Ukrainian ships super close to Bulgaria’s waters in the Black Sea, 11 civilians died, and the PM still says we can’t make any conclusions about the perpetrators when questioned in parliament…
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Not that different, perhaps, from Russia making businesses responsible for defending their sites against drones. Even threatening to nationalize the businesses that fail to establish adequate defenses. How a business can get ahold of military-grade anti-air defense systems is left mostly unanswered.
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There is definitely much more sympathy for Russia in Bulgaria than in Poland (I've noticed this esp. with older folks: "our Russian brothers").
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I am getting a bit concerned that Russia is actually planning an attack on Eastern Europe.It’s just like red storm rising, their refineries have been blown up and their diesel will only last 6 months. They need to move now or they’ll have to accept peace and economic prosperity.
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I didn't realize that in addition to the 11,127 satellites in our orbit it also takes over 1,500 ground antenna in the US alone to run this network? It seems likely that there is much more ground infrastructure than space infrastructure to make Starlink work
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most of what police do is after the fact. you're responsible for securing your own property, security guards are a thing everywhere.
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>"Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told parliament that additional security measures had been introduced at similar facilities, even though responsibility for their protection rested with their owners."It seems absurd that the government is blaming SpaceX for not securing its property against trespass and vandalism/arson, especially…
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I find it somewhat interesting Russia is likely sabotaging these stations while Musk is limiting StarLink capabilities to Ukraine in fighting Russia. Very Spy vs Spy. Pick a lane!