Lithuania to tighten security at critical sites after Starlink fire attempt

Lithuania will heighten security at more than 15 sites managing critical infrastructure of national importance after an attempt to set fire to Starlink equipment in Vilnius. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius announced the wider alert on Monday, 19 October, saying it would mean more security personnel and closer attention to physical and technical protection. He said the attack had not interrupted the Starlink connection. [2] [3]

The attempted arson took place early on Sunday at a fenced business site in the Aukštieji Paneriai district. Staff put out the fire before firefighters arrived, according to fire officials quoted by Lithuanian news agency ELTA. Sinkevičius said the Starlink antennas had not caught fire, although a control unit was slightly scorched. The fire service said the damage was still being assessed. [4] [2]

The prime minister said the company had been warned of possible attacks and its security strengthened before the incident. Monday’s announcement concerned a broader group of sites. Defence minister Robertas Kaunas said troops were already helping protect critical infrastructure; officials also plan to offer security advice to other businesses in sensitive sectors. [6] [3]

Lithuanian police have opened a preliminary investigation into property damage by means endangering public safety. Police commissioner Arūnas Paulauskas said on Monday that no suspects had yet been arrested. [4] [5]

Sinkevičius has said he considers Russia a likely organiser. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s national crisis management centre, described the attempt as sabotage intended to affect Ukrainian operations. Starlink is used by Ukraine’s military, but the Vilnius connection was not disrupted, according to the prime minister. [6] [1] [4] [2]

There have been separate incidents involving Starlink equipment elsewhere. Poland’s domestic security agency says a fire at a station there in September was deliberately set; two suspects were arrested, while inquiries into possible organisers and commissioners continued. Bulgaria’s prime minister urged patience over questions about burned Starlink antennas there. Those cases do not establish who was behind the attempt in Vilnius or whether the incidents share an organiser. [7] [8]