Russia was likely behind an attempt to set fire to a Lithuanian company storing Starlink equipment at around 02:00 on Sunday, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said.
“Just after midnight last night, there was another incident – an attempt was made to set fire to a Lithuanian company where Starlink communications equipment is stored. The authorities had warned the company about possible attacks, security had been stepped up, and the attempt failed,” Sinkevičius said in a post on Facebook.
He said Lithuanian authorities were monitoring the activities of hostile states “very closely” and taking measures to protect people and their property.
Similar or related incidents had already occurred abroad, including in Poland and Bulgaria, Sinkevičius later told LRT RADIO, linking the incident to Russia’s hybrid war against Europe.
“At around 02:00, there was an attempt to burn satellite antennas and a control unit. Incendiary liquids were found, along with containers ranging in capacity from three to 10 litres. The fact is that this was clearly an attempted act of sabotage or diversion, as we are seeing similar actions repeated across Europe. It is obvious that [...] this is part of Russia’s hybrid war, involving acts of sabotage,” the prime minister later told LRT Radio.
“We will learn more about who ordered it, how everything happened and who was behind it. It is likely that it is already clear who commissioned it – it is the Russian side,” he added.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas also confirmed the information but stressed that he could not yet provide further details.
“The incident has been brought under control and prevented, but it is also being investigated,” the minister told journalists on Sunday.
Jolita Orentaitė, head of the Communications Division at the Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD), told BNS that a pre-trial investigation had been launched into the incident. She declined to comment further.
“We cannot share that information because a pre-trial investigation has been launched,” Orentaitė said.
The prime minister has called a meeting of the National Security Commission for Monday to examine the attempted arson, as well as the incident involving a drone crashing in northern Lithuania on Sunday.
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