Arson Conspiracy Charges Against Two Men Targeting UK Prime Minister’s Assets
Poinews.com – On Monday, a London court handed down convictions to two individuals for planning a series of fire attacks aimed at properties connected to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian citizen, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Romanian national, were found guilty of conspiring to damage property through arson. The third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was cleared of all charges and will not face sentencing.
The trio of fires, ignited overnight in May 2025, targeted specific locations linked to Starmer. These included his former car, a front door of a north London apartment building where he once held a directorial role, and a residence in Kentish Town that had been rented to his sister-in-law after he moved to Downing Street. No one was harmed, but residents were placed in significant peril. Starmer’s sister-in-law reported hearing a loud explosion and experiencing difficulty breathing due to smoke in the stairwell, while her daughter was left in a state of panic. Another occupant of the building was forced to climb onto the roof as smoke filled the corridors.
Unidentified Figure Behind the Plot
The plan was allegedly masterminded by an enigmatic Russian-speaking individual yet to be identified. Lavrynovych, who admitted to setting the fires, claimed he had no knowledge of the properties’ owners and was unaware of Starmer’s identity. He stated that he was motivated by threats from the figure, known as “El Money,” who had promised £3,000 in cryptocurrency to fund his father’s medical care. Lavrynovych said he never received the payment and continued the operation out of fear.
“These crimes were an attack… on democracy and the values that we stand for,” Starmer told MPs.
El Money provided detailed instructions on targets, the mixing of flammable materials, and methods to evade detection. After the incidents, the figure urged Lavrynovych to escape London and use the code word “geranium” if arrested. Carpiuc, meanwhile, was involved in organizing logistics and managing the payment process. Pochynok was allegedly tasked with recording the fires as proof of completion.
Speculation on State Involvement
Commander Helen Flanagan, leading London’s counter-terrorism policing, noted the attacks were intended to instill fear and intimidate. However, she stated there was no conclusive evidence pointing to state sponsorship. Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s anti-terrorism division, emphasized that criminal acts, such as arson, would be investigated and prosecuted thoroughly.
“Those who commit criminal acts… will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted robustly,” Ferguson added.
The case has sparked broader discussions, with reports suggesting El Money may be based in Russia and associated with a notorious hacker collective named NoName. A BBC investigation further claims the attacks could be tied to the Russian government, identifying a young diplomat as the likely contact. The Russian embassy dismissed these allegations, asserting that Russia has no intent to provoke Britain.
