Key facts
- Arson attacks targeting properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer were part of a Russian campaign.
- The campaign was allegedly directed by Evgeny Lyukshin, a young Russian diplomat identified by the BBC.
- Operatives used social media and Telegram to recruit individuals and organize acts of vandalism and disinformation.
- A fake far-right group called Direct Action UK was created by Russian operatives to sow division and incite violence.
- Six mosques and an Islamic school were vandalized in London following calls from Direct Action.
An FT investigation has found that a Russian online sabotage network was responsible for arson attacks on Keir Starmer's family home and other targets linked to the UK prime minister. The campaign allegedly involved a Russian diplomat, identified by the BBC as Evgeny Lyukshin, who offered money and Russian citizenship for acts of vandalism. Operatives reportedly used social media and Telegram to recruit individuals and organize acts of vandalism and disinformation, including the creation of a fake far-right group called Direct Action UK. This group was used to incite violence, leading to the vandalism of six mosques and an Islamic school in London. Hope Not Hate had alerted counter-terror police to concerns about Direct Action UK, warning of potential terror attacks. While a court case focused on financial motives for the arson, the BBC's investigation highlighted the broader context of alleged Russian state involvement.