Lithuanian defence firms seek more state help after attempted arson in Vilnius

Lithuanian defence and dual-use technology companies are urging the government to provide more support against suspected sabotage, cyberattacks and intimidation. The appeal follows an attempt overnight on Sunday to set fire to a facility in Vilnius that stores Starlink satellite communications equipment, which is also used to provide connectivity in Ukraine. The firms want authorities to offer more training and practical advice on how to respond to threats.

The Vilnius incident

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said incendiary liquids and Molotov cocktails were used. A security guard spotted the fire and put it out. Only a control unit was damaged, and surveillance cameras recorded the incident. Police Commissioner General Arūnas Paulauskas said the investigation was moving forward intensively, but no suspects had been detained. Sinkevičius said the case is being treated as sabotage; the company had received a general warning about possible threats on Friday, but authorities had no advance information about this specific incident.

Last week antennas were set on fire in Bulgaria, and a month ago a Starlink station was targeted in Poland, where four suspects were detained in Germany. Lithuanian authorities also suspect Russian intelligence services may have been behind an earlier incident involving a drone manufacturer, outside whose premises wreaths were left and whose chief executive's photograph was marked with a black ribbon.

What companies want

Businesses cite cars with Russian licence plates parked near their offices, employees being photographed and psychological pressure. Tomas Milašauskas, head of RSI Europe, said cyberattacks on his company became routine several years ago and that it follows the security recommendations it receives. Edvinas Kerza, head of ScaleWolf, called for more events on physical security and for free or subsidised help for smaller firms. Vidmantas Janulevičius, president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, warned companies might reconsider investing in dual-use production if they feel abandoned.

The state's response

Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre, said security guidelines have been sent to more than 40 companies. After the incident, agencies were told to strengthen protection of strategic facilities, and the list of at-risk companies is expected to grow. Public Security Service chief Viktoras Grabauskas said the alert level was raised, though no specific signs of an imminent threat were detected. Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas stressed that the state cannot physically protect every business because it must also safeguard critical infrastructure.