AI
Jun 16, 20261
71%
Ukrainian man convicted in arson attacks on UK Prime Minister's properties; Russian handler remains at large
Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych has been convicted of setting fires at properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May 2025, acting on instructions from a Russian-speaking online handler known as "El Money" who remains unidentified and at large. The attacks are suspected by analysts and investigators to be part of a broader Russian sabotage campaign against European nations supporting Ukraine.
Quick Facts
Who
Roman Lavrynovych
What
Arson attacks on car and homes linked to Prime Minister Starmer
When
May 2025 (attacks)
Where
London, United Kingdom
- Arson attacks on car and homes linked to Prime Minister Starmer
- Initial recruitment for anti-Islam poster campaigns
- Filming of fires with poor quality documentation
- Conviction of Lavrynovych and accomplice
- Escape of Russian-speaking handler from prosecution
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out arson attacks targeting properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but the Russian-speaking handler who orchestrated the scheme has escaped justice. Roman Lavrynovych, who was 21 at the time of the attacks, was convicted alongside an accomplice after a six-week trial. The individual or network behind the online persona "El Money" — who recruited Lavrynovych and provided detailed instructions for the fires — has not been publicly identified or held accountable.
The attacks occurred over several days in May 2025, targeting a car and two London homes connected to Starmer. El Money sent Lavrynovych instructions on how to mix flammable liquids and directed him to film the incidents, though the resulting videos were poorly executed. One fire at a residence where Starmer's sister-in-law was staying caused significant distress; she reported struggling to breathe due to smoke. The attacks caused no serious injuries or major structural damage, but they did draw the attention of British counterterrorism police.
Lavrynovych told the court he had been initially hired to post anti-Islam posters and graffiti in London neighborhoods before being offered larger sums to commit the arsons, with threats made if he refused to comply. His defense lawyer characterized him as a "vulnerable, ignorant" puppet manipulated by a serious operator. At trial, jurors heard extensive details about how the fires were set but received almost no information about who ordered them or their motivations.
The plot bears hallmarks of Russian state-backed sabotage, according to Commander Dominic Murphy, a retired officer with two decades of experience investigating such activities. European officials believe Moscow is conducting a wider sabotage campaign against countries supporting Ukraine, with the Associated Press tracking at least 192 such attacks across Europe since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These attacks include arson, cyberattacks, and attempted assassinations. However, establishing Moscow's direct involvement in court remains difficult due to intelligence gaps and the classified nature of much evidence.
When questioned by the AP in June about allegations of Russian covert operations against the West, President Vladimir Putin dismissed the claims. "What are the specific facts?" he said. "What has been proven?" The U.K. Home Office characterized the fires as an "abhorrent attack" and stated those responsible have been brought to justice, but did not address whether the British government attributes the attack to Russia.
Why This Matters
This case exposes the operational tactics and vulnerabilities in foreign sabotage networks targeting Western leaders. It demonstrates how recruitment of vulnerable individuals via online handlers can execute strategic attacks while protecting command structures, raising urgent questions about border security, counterintelligence effectiveness, and the difficulty of attributing hybrid warfare to state actors—critical issues as Western nations confront escalating Russian covert operations.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2022
WireRussia invades Ukraine; broader sabotage campaign against European countries begins