Two men convicted in arson plot targeting UK PM Keir Starmer-linked properties in 2025
Consensus Summary
Two men, Roman Lavrynovych (22, Ukrainian) and Stanislav Carpiuc (27, Romanian), were convicted on June 15, 2026, of conspiring to set fire to three properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May 2025. The attacks included a car Starmer once owned, a building he previously managed, and a home where his sister-in-law lived. A third man, Petro Pochynok (35), was acquitted. The plot was orchestrated by a Russian-speaking Telegram user named 'El Money,' who communicated with Lavrynovych in Russian and Ukrainian and instructed him to ensure the arsons were broadcast on the news. Lavrynovych admitted he acted under threat and for payment, though he never received the promised £3,000 in cryptocurrency. Police recovered messages linking El Money to a pro-Kremlin hacktivist group, NoName057(16), but no evidence directly tied the attacks to the Russian state. Both sources agree the fires caused no injuries and occurred in north London’s Kentish Town, though details on Lavrynovych’s motivations and initial recruitment vary slightly.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Roman Lavrynovych (22, Ukrainian) and Stanislav Carpiuc (27, Romanian) were convicted of conspiring to damage property by fire at the Old Bailey on June 15, 2026
- Petro Pochynok (35) was acquitted of the conspiracy charge
- Three arson attacks occurred in May 2025: a car (Toyota RAV4) once owned by Keir Starmer, a property he previously managed, and a home where his sister-in-law lived
- A Russian-speaking Telegram user named 'El Money' (linked to pro-Kremlin hacktivist group NoName057(16)) orchestrated the attacks and communicated with Lavrynovych in Russian/Ukrainian
- Lavrynovych was convicted of two counts of arson with intent to endanger life or recklessly endangering life on May 11 and 12, 2025
- Lavrynovych received £1,500 for scouting locations and was promised £3,000 in cryptocurrency for the arsons, which he never received
- The fires occurred in north London (Kentish Town) and no one was injured
- Lavrynovych claimed he was threatened by El Money, who knew his south London address shared with his grandmother
- El Money instructed Lavrynovych to ensure the arsons were broadcast on the news
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Judith Alexander, Starmer’s sister-in-law, described hearing loud bangs at ~1am and seeing smoke rising to her daughter’s room above the fire on May 12, 2025
- James Scobie KC (defense lawyer) suggested Russia may have an interest in undermining UK support for Ukraine, though no direct evidence linked El Money to Russian state actors
- The Guardian cited European intelligence reports of a broader Russian campaign of sabotage, arson, and disinformation across Europe (UK, Lithuania, France, Estonia)
- A Financial Times investigation alleged El Money was linked to the pro-Kremlin hacktivist group NoName057(16)
- Lavrynovych initially refused a job to print 'anti-Islam' posters but later scouted two addresses for £1,500 without knowing they were linked to Starmer
- Lavrynovych described Putin as 'a terrorist' and said Russia was 'in the wrong' in the Ukraine conflict
- Pochynok was recruited by Carpiuc to help with the first fire, while Carpiuc handled planning and payment
- Lavrynovych said El Money instructed him to 'finish the job' on the car after the first attempt failed to gain media attention
- Helen Flanagan (Met Police counter-terrorism head) explicitly stated there was no evidence Russia was behind the attacks
- Included a photo credit to AP: James Manning/Press Association for a fire scene in Kentish Town
- Noted Starmer’s former Toyota SUV was 'destroyed' in the arson (Guardian used 'set ablaze')
- Described occupants retreating to the roof of the apartment building due to smoke-filled hallways
- Mentioned Lavrynovych had conducted other vandalism, including painting car windshields black and posting anti-Islam posters
- El Money told Lavrynovych to send a coded message 'geranium' if arrested, which Lavrynovych did shortly before his detention
- Lavrynovych said he needed money for his father’s medical treatment
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Lavrynovych was asked by police if he had 'any grudges against Starmer, or the government, or England' and he replied 'No' to all, while ABC does not report this specific police interview question
- The Guardian describes the car as 'set ablaze' while ABC states it was 'destroyed' in the arson
- The Guardian notes Lavrynovych was recruited through a 'Telegram London jobs group,' a detail not mentioned in ABC
- ABC implies Lavrynovych’s initial refusal was for 'anti-Islam posters,' while the Guardian specifies he refused a job for 'something about Islam' and found it 'obvious that it was nothing good'
Source Articles
The Russian-speaking mastermind at heart of Starmer-linked arson trial
Two men have been convicted of attacks linked to ‘El Money’ – a Telegram contact who the court heard wanted to see results of their crimes ‘on the news’ Judith Alexander was awake in bed on her phone when about 1am she heard two very loud bangs. It sounded to the prime minister’s sister-in-law like two wheelie bins had been thrown at the door. But when she looked out of a window, she saw smoke and an orange glow. “We could see the smoke was getting thicker and going upstairs,” said Alexander, in
Two men convicted of plot to torch property linked to British PM Keir Starmer
A Russian-speaking figure who went by the name "El Money" offered one of the men money to torch the properties and take video that could be posted online to draw attention to the attack.