British authorities have exposed a Russian-directed sabotage plot involving arson attacks on properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The coordinated campaign occurred over five days in May 2025 in London.
Metropolitan Police and court documents reveal the suspects were recruited by a Telegram handler saved as "El Money," believed to be a Russian diplomat trained in information warfare. The handler allegedly promised payment and Russian citizenship in exchange for the attacks.
Two men were convicted: Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted.
The first arson occurred on May 8, destroying a vehicle formerly owned by Starmer. On May 11, a fire was set at a property previously linked to a company he directed. The final attack on May 12 targeted the Prime Minister's private residence.
Investigators say the operation was orchestrated from Moscow, using fake far-right and Muslim online communities to amplify division. Lavrynovych was arrested on May 13 after CCTV and phone records tied him to reconnaissance activities. Carpiuc was detained at Luton Airport on May 17 while trying to board a flight to Romania.
"The actions of the two men involved in these arson attacks were incredibly reckless, and it was sheer luck that nobody was killed or injured," said Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London.
The Russian Embassy has denied involvement.