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Two men have been convicted for their roles in a series of arson attacks targeting properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a case that authorities say highlights growing concerns over foreign-backed efforts to undermine the United Kingdom.
Roman Lavrynovych, 22, a Ukrainian national, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, from Romania, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out attacks on properties connected to the prime minister. Prosecutors said the pair acted under the direction of an online handler believed to have links to Russia.
The convictions were delivered on Monday, with sentencing scheduled for Friday. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted of all charges.
Lavrynovych was additionally convicted of two counts of arson after fires were deliberately set at properties associated with Starmer in May last year. Prosecutors argued that the attacks were carried out with reckless disregard for human life.
Speaking during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Starmer said the incidents had a significant impact on his family and described them as part of a wider pattern of hostile activity directed at the UK.
"We face attempts every day from those seeking to exploit divisions within our society and weaken our democratic institutions," the prime minister said.
Investigators identified a Russian-speaking Telegram user operating under the alias "El Money" as a key figure in the plot. Court proceedings revealed that the individual communicated with Lavrynovych in Russian and allegedly directed the attacks from abroad.
Defence lawyers argued that the defendants had been manipulated by the anonymous online handler. During closing arguments, counsel for Lavrynovych suggested the individual behind the messages had taken advantage of vulnerable recruits while pursuing broader political objectives linked to Russia's opposition to Western support for Ukraine.
The case comes amid rising tensions between Moscow and London. British officials have recently increased scrutiny of Russian activities, including sanctions targeting Russia's energy sector and actions against vessels linked to the country's so-called "shadow fleet."
Starmer also expressed concern about misinformation campaigns surrounding the case. False claims circulated online suggesting the attacks were motivated by personal grievances unrelated to politics. The theory was amplified on social media and by several far-right figures, despite a lack of evidence.
The prime minister warned that both domestic and foreign actors were contributing to efforts to sow division within British society.
Investigations by several media organizations, including the BBC and the Financial Times, have reported links between the suspected handler and pro-Kremlin networks. According to those reports, digital evidence indicates that "El Money" may have connections to NoName057(16), a group widely known for conducting cyber and influence operations in support of Russian interests.
Authorities continue to investigate the broader network behind the attacks as concerns grow over foreign interference and hybrid threats facing the United Kingdom.
