A London court has convicted two men of orchestrating a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a case that has drawn attention to potential foreign interference in the United Kingdom's domestic affairs. The verdict, delivered at the Old Bailey on Monday, found Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian national, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Romanian citizen, guilty of conspiring to damage property by fire. Lavrynovych was also convicted on two counts of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
The Attacks and Their Aftermath
The three fires, all set overnight in May 2025, targeted a Toyota car formerly owned by Starmer, the front door of a north London apartment building where he had once held a directorial stake, and his former home in Kentish Town—then rented to his sister-in-law after he moved into Downing Street. No one was physically injured, but the incidents placed occupants in serious danger. Starmer's sister-in-law reported hearing a loud bang and struggling to breathe as smoke filled the stairway, leaving her nine-year-old daughter terrified. A resident of the apartment building was forced onto the roof after finding hallways engulfed in smoke.
Starmer told Members of Parliament that the crimes were "an attack... on democracy and the values that we stand for." The case has prompted widespread speculation about the involvement of foreign actors, though authorities have stopped short of confirming a state link.
The Handler and the Telegram Connection
Lavrynovych was recruited through the Telegram messaging app by a Russian-speaking figure known as "El Money," who offered him £3,000 in cryptocurrency—which Lavrynovych said he needed to pay for his father's medical treatment—to torch the properties and film the evidence for posting online. El Money provided detailed instructions on targets, how to mix flammable substances, and how to avoid detection. Lavrynovych admitted setting the fires but claimed he had no idea who owned the properties and did not even know who Starmer was. He said he only continued after being threatened by El Money and never received payment. After the fires, El Money urged him to flee London and told him to send the code word "geranium" if detained by police.
Carpiuc played a coordinating role, handling logistics and payment arrangements, while Pochynok was allegedly recruited to film the fires as proof of completion. The Financial Times reported that its own investigation found El Money was located in Russia and linked to a prominent hacker group called NoName.
Questions of State Involvement
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing for London, said the attacks were clearly designed to intimidate and create fear, but added there was "no evidence to suggest that this was a state-backed threat." Frank Ferguson, the Crown Prosecution Service's anti-terrorism chief, said the convictions showed that "those who commit criminal acts, including acts of arson, to pursue their, or others' agendas, will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted robustly."
The case has nonetheless fueled broader concerns about foreign interference in European democracies. Similar plots have emerged across the continent, from suspected Russian-linked sabotage in the Baltic states to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The UK's response, including the swift investigation and prosecution, underscores the seriousness with which such threats are taken. As European Pulse has reported, E3 envoys recently met with Russian officials in Moscow amid stalled peace efforts in Ukraine, highlighting the tense geopolitical backdrop.
The case also raises questions about the use of encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram for criminal coordination. While the platform offers privacy, it has become a tool for illicit activities, from drug trafficking to terrorism. European regulators have increasingly scrutinized such platforms, though balancing security with civil liberties remains a challenge.
For now, the focus remains on the sentencing of Lavrynovych and Carpiuc, and on the unanswered questions about El Money's identity and possible state backing. The verdict serves as a reminder that even in stable democracies, the line between domestic crime and foreign interference can be disturbingly thin.
