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Starlink Sabotage Suspected Again—This Time, 11 Antennas Set on Fire in Bulgaria
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Bulgarian authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack targeting 11 of 17 antennas used to communicate with the Starlink satellite network near Sofia, raising concerns over the security of critical satellite communications infrastructure.
Bulgarian lawmaker Ivaylo Mirchev of the Yes, Bulgaria party first reported the suspected attack on Facebook on October 13 before raising the issue in parliament.
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Mirchev demanded that Bulgaria's intelligence services and Interior Ministry clarify whether they had been aware of the incident, accusing the government of withholding information from the public.
The lawmaker suggested that the antennas had been deliberately targeted because of their role in maintaining communications with Starlink satellites.
“It is no coincidence that precisely those antennas providing backbone communications with these satellites were set on fire. The same thing happened to the same antennas, again belonging to Starlink, in Poland at the end of September,” Mirchev said, according to BNT.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that an investigation was underway but declined to disclose details, citing the need to protect ongoing investigative operations.
“The investigation is ongoing, and it is extremely intensive. I urge the head of the State Agency for National Security not to disclose details at this stage, despite your extremely keen interest. But it is a matter of a very short time. We are cooperating with partner services to successfully complete this operation,” Radev said.
The prime minister emphasized that prematurely releasing information about the investigation could undermine efforts to identify those responsible.
“If the head of the State Agency for National Security and the police begin revealing exactly what has been established, we will not achieve the result we are seeking. But I can tell you that the situation regarding the investigation is under control,” Radev said, as quoted by BNR on October 14.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said authorities had strengthened security measures around similar communications facilities across the country following the reported incident.
The suspected attack in Bulgaria follows a separate incident involving Starlink infrastructure in Poland, where authorities are investigating possible sabotage after a fire damaged a ground station providing satellite internet connectivity to parts of Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
As reported by RMF, the fire broke out late on September 23 at a facility in Wola Krobowska. Emergency services were alerted after the property owner discovered burning antennas and damage to a power generator at the site.
Separately, Starlink's military communications services have also faced operational disruptions following changes introduced by SpaceX. On October 14, Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov reported that the company had imposed new speed restrictions on satellite terminals operating in motion, affecting several Ukrainian military missions without advance warning.
According to Beskrestnov, the restrictions currently apply to StarShield, SpaceX's military-focused satellite communications service, limiting the operating speed of mobile terminals to 100 miles per hour (approximately 161 km/h).
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