Key facts
- Two men, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were convicted of conspiring to commit arson attacks on property linked to Keir Starmer.
- The arsonists appear to have been instructed by a Russian-linked online contact known as 'El Money'.
- Keir Starmer described the attacks as evidence of 'bad actors' attempting to destabilize the UK.
- The convictions coincide with other recent incidents increasing tensions between Russia and the UK.
Keir Starmer has stated that arson attacks targeting his property, for which two individuals have been found guilty, demonstrate that the UK is under attack from malicious actors seeking to destabilize the country. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were convicted of conspiring to carry out arson attacks, allegedly under the instruction of a Russian-linked online contact using the pseudonym 'El Money'.
Starmer, speaking at the G7 summit in France, said the attack had personally affected his family and highlighted a broader pattern of Russia attempting to exploit divisions within the UK and undermine its democracy. The convictions come amid a period of heightened tensions between Russia and the UK, marked by incidents such as the interception of a Russian oil vessel and warning shots fired by a Russian warship.
Evidence presented in court suggested that 'El Money' communicated in Russian with Lavrynovych and was located in Russia, with links to the pro-Kremlin hacktivist group NoName057(16). Starmer also addressed the spread of conspiracy theories surrounding the attacks, suggesting that various actors, including those from outside the UK, seek to divide the country. He emphasized the need to counter such efforts at every turn.