Russia-Linked Arson Plot
Two Jailed for Arson Targeting Starmer Properties Amid Suspected Russian Plot
Key Points
Court documents and testimony specified that Lavrynovych was convicted of “two counts of committing arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered,” while Carpiuc was convicted of “conspiracy to commit arson”; prosecutors also said “EL Money” contacted Lavrynovych in both Russian and Ukrainian.
The Old Bailey heard the attacks included a blaze set to a Toyota RAV4 that had “once belonged to Starmer,” alongside homes including one “owned by the Prime Minister and occupied by his sister-in-law and her family.”
Prosecutors said “El Money” promised Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency “if the blazes were filmed and made it into the news,” indicating the arson was coordinated for media impact.
A BBC investigation reported that “El Money” was likely the Russian diplomat Evgeny Lyukshinn, described as having been trained by spies and close Putin allies in “information warfare” and linked to spreading hate and division via fake extremist social media groups.
Counter-terror policing commander Helen Flanagan said there was “nothing to indicate” “El Money” was a “state threat,” but that the motive was to “cause concern” and “disruption” in the UK community and to create “fear” for the prime minister.
A British court sentenced two men to prison on June 19, 2026, for a series of arson attacks targeting properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, got seven years, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, received two years, Reuters reported. The attacks — set over just five nights in May 2025 — were directed by a mystery Russian-speaking Telegram handler known only as "El Money," who promised Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency if the fires made the news.
The Old Bailey heard that targets included a Toyota RAV4 once owned by Starmer and a home occupied by his sister-in-law, Judith Alexander, and her family — including a nine-year-old girl asleep upstairs when the blaze was set. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, was cleared of the same charges, according to AP.
How El Money Recruited and Directed the Attacks
"El Money" first contacted Lavrynovych in September 2024 through a Telegram group for Ukrainians seeking work in London, The Guardian reported. The handler communicated in both Russian and Ukrainian, sending over 320 Telegram messages. He started Lavrynovych with smaller jobs — spraying anti-Islamic graffiti and posting material for a fake far-right group called "Direct Action UK" — before escalating to arson.
For the arson attacks, "El Money" sent target details and instructions for using flammable liquids. He promised £3,000 in cryptocurrency only if the fires were filmed and covered by the media. Carpiuc acted as a "money man," helping to arrange the cryptocurrency payments, according to ITV News.
BBC Investigation Points Finger at Russian Diplomat's Son
A joint investigation by BBC and the Financial Times identified "El Money" as Evgeny Lyukshin, 23, the son of a senior Russian diplomat. Lyukshin was reportedly trained in "information warfare" at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and linked to spreading division through fake extremist social media groups.
Despite this, Counter-Terrorism Policing commander Helen Flanagan said there was "nothing to indicate" that "El Money" represented a formal "state threat." She said the handler's goal was to "cause concern" and "disruption" in the UK and to create "fear" for the prime minister. Russia's President Vladimir Putin dismissed the allegations, saying there were "no specific facts" or "proof," according to AP.
Judge Calls It Grubby; Victim Describes Orange Glow and Smoke
Judge Neil Garnham rejected Lavrynovych's claim that he did not know the targets were linked to the prime minister. The judge called him "utterly reckless" about the risk to human life and condemned both men for accepting "grubby" tasks for money, Reuters reported. The defense argued Lavrynovych was "utterly naive" and "gullible" — mere "fodder" for a sophisticated foreign operation.
Judith Alexander, Starmer's sister-in-law, told the court she saw an "orange glow" and smoke fill her home while her young daughter slept upstairs, The Guardian reported. Starmer, speaking from the G7 summit in France, called the attacks "an attack on democracy" and said the UK faces "proxy attacks from Russia every single day."
Wider Fallout: Telegram Under Scrutiny, Diplomats Under Pressure
The case is part of a broader pattern. Since late 2024, European intelligence agencies — including the UK's MI5 — have warned that Russia is recruiting low-level criminals and vulnerable migrants via social media to carry out sabotage, according to the Financial Times. A similar Russia-linked arson attack on a warehouse in Leyton, East London, was prosecuted in 2024.
Ofcom has contacted Telegram to "seek clarification" on how the platform stops the recruitment of saboteurs, The Guardian reported. Some MPs have called for the expulsion of more Russian diplomatic staff following the naming of Lyukshin, the diplomat's son. The Metropolitan Police said it is now reviewing security for the prime minister's extended family and former homes.
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