Man offered Ukrainians money to carry out Starmer arson attacks, court hears

Man offered Ukrainians money to carry – A Russian-speaking individual has been accused of recruiting Ukrainian nationals to conduct arson attacks on properties tied to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, according to a court hearing. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Petro Pochynok, 35, are among those charged with orchestrating fires targeting two homes and a vehicle associated with the PM, alongside Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, a Romanian-born Ukrainian citizen. All three defendants, who reside in London, deny the allegations, though they face accusations of conspiring with others to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May 2025.

Timeline of the alleged incidents

The sequence of events began on 8 May 2025, when a car previously owned by Sir Keir was discovered ablaze on a street in Kentish Town, north London, where the PM had once lived. Just three days later, a fire broke out at flats linked to him in Islington, a nearby area. On 12 May, the entrance of Sir Keir’s residence in Kentish Town, which was being rented out, also caught fire. These incidents are part of a broader pattern the prosecution claims was deliberately planned.

Duncan Atkinson KC, the prosecutor, stated that the three fires occurred in the same neighborhood over three consecutive nights in May. He emphasized that such a concentration of arson attacks in a short time frame was “unusual,” yet the fact that all involved properties connected to the same person was “beyond coincidence.” Atkinson highlighted that the car had once belonged to Sir Keir, one house was managed by a firm he had previously directed, and the other remained in his possession, occupied by his sister-in-law.

Financial incentives and communication evidence

According to Atkinson, the defendants were motivated by financial gain rather than ideological reasons. He explained that the evidence did not require jurors to determine the identity of the person known as “El Money” who coordinated the attacks. Instead, the focus was on proving the defendants’ involvement and the planned nature of the arson. The prosecutor noted that El Money communicated in Russian, while the defendants primarily used Ukrainian, suggesting a distinct role in the plot.

Messages recovered from the defendants’ phones reveal premeditated discussions about the attacks. Lavrynovych, for instance, engaged in conversations with El Money on the Telegram app, where he was offered payment for setting fires. These exchanges, Atkinson argued, were an “obvious reference” to a coordinated effort to damage Sir Keir’s former Toyota vehicle. The prosecution further claimed that Lavrynovych had sent an image of the car to an Instagram user in October 2024, identifying its location before the attacks commenced.

Reconnaissance and preparation

Atkinson presented CCTV footage showing Lavrynovych visiting a south London B&Q store on 6 May 2025, purchasing white spirit—an accelerant used to fuel fires. The timing of this activity, just one day before the car was set ablaze, suggested that Lavrynovych was conducting a reconnaissance mission. His phone data corroborated this, indicating that he had traveled from his home to the area where the car was parked. The evidence, Atkinson said, “demonstrated that the acts of arson were planned and directed” with a clear intent to cause harm.

The jury was also shown messages between Lavrynovych and Pochynok, which prosecutors say outlined arrangements for the attack. In the days leading up to the incidents, the pair discussed logistics and the target’s location, according to the prosecution. Atkinson stressed that the defendants had not provided any compelling evidence to support their claim of innocence, leaving the motive for the fires unproven.

Prosecutor’s closing remarks

“This case concerns a series of three fires that were deliberately set in a residential area of North London over three nights in May last year,” Atkinson asserted. He added that the proximity of the fires—spanning a five-day window—was not accidental but rather a calculated effort to link them to Sir Keir. “The evidence demonstrated that there was here no coincidence,” the prosecutor said, “rather, the vehicle and properties in question had been targeted, and the acts of arson at these locations had been planned and directed.”

Atkinson also noted that the defendants’ financial motivations were central to the case. He argued that it was irrelevant whether they were aware of the property’s connection to Sir Keir or if that knowledge influenced their actions. “The defendants had not demonstrated any particular political or ideological motivation,” he said, “as opposed to a financial one.” This perspective, he claimed, allowed jurors to concentrate on the evidence of coordination and the intent to damage property, rather than speculate on the defendants’ broader beliefs.

The prosecution’s case hinges on the defendants’ communications and their movements during the relevant period. Lavrynovych’s journey to the car’s location on 7 May, the day before the fire, was described as a “reconnaissance trip” to prepare for the attack. Atkinson highlighted that this behavior, combined with the purchase of flammable materials, provided a clear link between the defendants and the incidents. “The evidence showed that he was making preparations for the following night,” the prosecutor said, underscoring the deliberate nature of the acts.

Defendants’ defense and legal implications

Despite the prosecution’s claims, the defendants have not yet provided a detailed defense. Their denial of the charges leaves the jury to determine whether the evidence of their involvement is sufficient. The case, which has drawn attention to the potential for domestic extremism, will be a test of how far financial incentives can drive targeted acts of destruction. Atkinson concluded by urging jurors to focus on the evidence of coordination and the planned attacks, rather than the defendants’ personal motivations.

As the trial progresses, the prosecution aims to establish that the fires were not random but part of a broader scheme. The use of cryptocurrency in the alleged targeting pack, which included instructions and payment methods, adds a layer of complexity to the case. With the defendants’ connections to Ukraine and their presence in London, the trial may also shed light on the role of diaspora communities in domestic criminal activities. The outcome could have significant implications for how such cases are handled in the future.

The courtroom has been abuzz with the potential for the case to set a precedent. Atkinson’s argument that the fires were a “deliberate sequence” targeting Sir Keir’s assets underscores the prosecution’s strategy to link the defendants’ actions to the PM’s personal interests. The jury will now weigh the evidence of coordination, financial incentives, and the defendants’ movements to decide whether they are guilty of conspiracy and arson. The trial continues as both sides present their case, with the final verdict pending.