Eleven Starlink Antennas Set on Fire at Restricted Site in Bulgaria

Bulgarian authorities are investigating the arson of Starlink satellite communications antennas at a site near Sofia.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that an “extremely intensive” investigation into the incident was underway.

He reported that Bulgarian law enforcement and security services were working with partner intelligence agencies. Radev declined to disclose details, saying it could jeopardize the operation.

Bulgarian parliament member Ivaylo Mirchev first reported the arson. According to him, 11 of the 17 antennas used to connect to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network were deliberately set on fire at a restricted site near Sofia.

Mirchev said that two masked men were involved in the arson.

Together with fellow lawmaker Bozhidar Bozhanov, Mirchev submitted inquiries to Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security and Ministry of Interior, including questions about whether the security services had received advance warnings from partners about a possible act of sabotage.

Mirchev suggested that the incident bore signs of Russian sabotage. Bulgarian authorities have not publicly confirmed any Russian involvement in the arson.

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said police had taken additional measures to protect similar sites across the country after the incident, although their owners remain directly responsible for security.

The incident comes amid another suspected act of sabotage targeting Starlink infrastructure in Europe.

In late September, Militarnyi reported a fire at a Starlink ground station in Poland that provided satellite connectivity to users across Europe, including Ukraine. Polish investigators later determined that the fire had been deliberately set.

Polish prosecutors were investigating the possibility of sabotage on behalf of Russian intelligence services. On October 12, two suspects in the arson were detained in Germany. The Polish government said it considered the incident an act of hybrid warfare and linked it to Russia.