Ukrainian man convicted in arson attacks on UK Prime Minister's properties; Russian handler remains at large

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.