A 22-year-old Ukrainian man was convicted on 15 June 2026 [4] for setting fire to a London property linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer [1].
The conviction highlights the potential for foreign intelligence services to recruit third-country nationals to conduct sabotage on Western soil. By utilizing a non-Russian citizen, the operation may have aimed to obscure the direct involvement of the Kremlin.
Roman Lavrynovych [1] was found guilty of the arson attack, which took place in May 2025 [3]. Evidence presented during the proceedings indicated that Lavrynovych acted under the direction of a Russian-speaking handler known as “El Money” [2].
According to investigators, the handler offered Lavrynovych £3,000 [2] to carry out the attack. The operation was described by police as part of a broader Russia-linked effort to target properties connected to the Prime Minister [2].
While Lavrynovych is now in custody, the handler known as “El Money” has not been captured. Authorities said the individual slipped away and remains at large [1].
Separate reports mentioned another Ukrainian man, 35-year-old Petro Pochynok, who has denied any involvement in the plot [5]. The court focused its conviction on Lavrynovych for the specific acts of arson committed in London [4].
The case emerged amid heightened security concerns regarding foreign interference in the United Kingdom. British officials have previously warned about the risk of hybrid warfare, including arson and cyberattacks, targeting high-profile political figures.
“Roman Lavrynovych acted under the direction of a Russian-speaking handler known as “El Money.””
This case illustrates a shift in espionage tactics where state actors utilize 'cut-outs'—individuals with no direct ties to the sponsoring nation—to perform kinetic attacks. By employing a Ukrainian national to target a British leader, the orchestrators created a layer of plausible deniability that complicates diplomatic attribution and legal prosecution.
