UK court convicts two over PM-targeting plot run by mysterious Russian
Two men were convicted today for arson attacks in May 2025 on a former home, an apartment building, and a vehicle linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. A Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money' is identified as the mastermind, offering payment via Telegram to carry out the attacks and document them. Authorities have not confirmed direct state involvement, though pro-Kremlin ties have been suggested. No direct link to Russia has been verified.
What changed
New details confirm the Telegram payment method, the ringleader’s alias, and the specific properties targeted, but no new evidence links the plot to Russian state actors.
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UK court convicts two in 2025 arson plot targeting PM Starmer’s properties
confidence 95%Two men were convicted today for arson attacks in May 2025 on a former home, an apartment building, and a vehicle linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. A Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money' is identified as the mastermind, offering payment via Telegram to carry out the attacks and document them. Authorities have not confirmed direct state involvement, though pro-Kremlin ties have been suggested. No direct link to Russia has been verified.
What's confirmed:
- Two men were convicted today for arson attacks in May 2025 on property linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, including his former home, an apartment building he once owned a share of, and his former Toyota SUV.
- The attacks were orchestrated by a Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money,' who offered money to a Ukrainian national, Roman Lavrynovych, via Telegram to carry out the fires and record evidence for online dissemination.
- No direct state involvement from Russia has been confirmed by authorities in connection with the plot.
Still unconfirmed:
- A pro-Kremlin sabotage network may have orchestrated the attacks, though this claim remains unconfirmed by authorities.
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UK court convicts two in Starmer-linked arson plot; Russian sabotage network alleged
confidence 85%Two men convicted today of arson attacks on properties and a vehicle linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The court identified a Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money' as the mastermind, with motives described as financial. A separate source claims a pro-Kremlin sabotage network orchestrated the attacks, though direct state involvement remains unconfirmed. No direct link to Russia has been verified by authorities.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were convicted today of arson attacks on properties and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The court heard the motive for the attacks was financial.
- 'El Money,' a Russian-speaking figure on Telegram, directed the plot and demanded visible results on news outlets.
Still unconfirmed:
- A pro-Kremlin hacker network based in Russia was behind the arson attacks on properties linked to Starmer, according to a Ukrainian news outlet.
- Unverified claims suggest broader sabotage efforts beyond the confirmed attacks.
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UK court convicts two in PM-linked arson plot; Russian diplomat suspected as mastermind
confidence 95%A London court today convicted Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc of orchestrating arson attacks targeting properties and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The plot allegedly originated with a Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money' on Telegram. A BBC investigation now implicates a Russian diplomat as the suspected mastermind, though no direct state link has been confirmed. Sentencing is set for Friday.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty today of conspiring to commit arson attacks on properties and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The two men face sentencing on Friday after their convictions in a case tied to the prime minister’s security.
- The plot was allegedly directed by a Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money' on Telegram, though no direct state link to Russia has been confirmed.
Still unconfirmed:
- A BBC investigation suggests a Russian diplomat may be the mastermind behind the firebomb plot targeting Prime Minister Starmer.
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UK court convicts two men in Starmer-linked arson plot; Russian handler suspected
confidence 92%A London court today found Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc guilty of orchestrating arson attacks on properties and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The plot was allegedly directed by a Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money' on Telegram. No direct state link to Russia has been confirmed. Unverified claims suggest broader sabotage efforts.
What's confirmed:
- Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were convicted today of conspiring to set fire to properties and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The plot was allegedly directed by a Russian-speaking handler using the Telegram alias 'El Money', who recruited one of the men through a Russian-language Telegram account.
- The attacks targeted two houses and a car connected to Starmer, with the fires set last year.
- UK officials describe the recruitment process as involving Ukrainian nationals carrying out coordinated arson attacks.
Still unconfirmed:
- Unverified claims suggest a wider sabotage and disinformation campaign linked to the attacks.
- No confirmed state-level involvement from Russia has been established.
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UK court convicts two in PM-linked arson plot after Telegram payments from 'El Money'
confidence 95%A London court today convicted two men—Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc—of orchestrating arson attacks on properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The plot involved torching two houses and a car, with instructions allegedly paid for via Telegram by a Russian-speaking figure using the alias 'El Money.' No confirmed state link to Russia exists. Unverified claims suggest a wider sabotage and disinformation campaign.
What's confirmed:
- A London court today convicted two men—Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc—of a plot to torch two houses and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The plot was directed by a Russian-speaking figure known as 'El Money,' who offered one of the men money through Telegram to carry out the attacks.
- The attacks targeted properties directly associated with the prime minister, including residential houses and a vehicle.
- No direct evidence links the operation to the Russian state, though the mastermind used a Russian alias and operated via Telegram.
Still unconfirmed:
- Unverified claims suggest the plot was part of a broader campaign of sabotage and misinformation targeting the UK government.
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UK court convicts two in PM-targeting arson plot linked to Russian handler
confidence 85%A UK court today convicted two men of orchestrating arson attacks on properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The plot was directed by a mysterious Russian-speaking figure known as 'El Money,' with no direct link to the Russian state confirmed. The attacks targeted two houses and a car. Unverified claims suggest a broader campaign of sabotage and misinformation.
What's confirmed:
- Two men, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were convicted today of planning arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The attacks targeted two houses and a car associated with Starmer, with evidence suggesting the plot was directed by an online handler using the alias 'El Money'.
- The handler 'El Money' has ties to Russia and appears to have orchestrated the attacks, though no direct evidence links the Russian state to the plot.
- The convicted men reportedly did not know Starmer was the prime minister at the time of the plot, according to prosecutors.
Still unconfirmed:
- The attacks may have been part of a wider campaign of sabotage and misinformation orchestrated by the Russian state, though this remains unverified.
- The plot could be connected to broader foreign interference efforts aimed at destabilizing the UK government.