Two Men Jailed at Old Bailey Over Russian-Linked Keir Starmer Arson Plot

Two men have been handed prison sentences at the Old Bailey for their roles in a conspiracy to carry out a series of arson attacks targeting a vehicle and properties connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, was jailed for two years following a trial that revealed the attacks in north London had been ordered on behalf of Russia.

The court heard that Lavrynovych carried out the arson offences after being recruited by an unidentified Russian-speaking Telegram user known only as "EL", who promised him payment in cryptocurrency.

The jury was told that Lavrynovych had previously been hired by the same anonymous figure to distribute far-right posters. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Garnham described Lavrynovych as a "useful idiot" who was easily manipulated.

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The judge stated that the 22-year-old had been "easily bought" and had "accepted the job as you had accepted other grubby little tasks". Addressing Carpiuc's involvement, the judge said he had played a "supporting role" in what he described as an "utterly reckless" campaign.

The series of attacks began on May 8, 2025, when a Toyota car previously owned by the Prime Minister was found alight on a street where he used to reside in Kentish Town.

Three days later, on May 11, a fire was discovered at flats in nearby Islington that had been linked to Sir Keir years earlier.

The following day, May 12, a third fire was started at the entrance to a Kentish Town property still owned by the Prime Minister and rented to his sister-in-law, Judith Alexander.

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Giving evidence during the trial, Ms Alexander recounted the incident, telling the court of billowing black smoke rising up the stairs while she, her daughter, and her partner were inside the home.

Following the trial, which concluded on Monday, Lavrynovych and Carpiuc were found guilty of conspiring together and "with others" to damage property by fire between April 1 and May 13, 2025.

Lavrynovych was additionally convicted of alternate counts of damaging property by fire, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, but was acquitted of the more serious charge of damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life.

A third defendant, 35-year-old Petro Pochynok, was found not guilty of the conspiracy charge and was cleared of involvement.

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Prosecutors detailed how, after carrying out the final arson attack on May 12, Lavrynovych was contacted by "EL", who instructed him to dispose of his clothes, promised the cryptocurrency payment, and urged him to leave London.

However, Lavrynovych was apprehended by police hours later when officers raided his home in Sydenham, south-east London. During his police interview, Lavrynovych claimed he had no idea who the Prime Minister was and had never heard of Keir Starmer.

In mitigation, James Scobie KC, representing Lavrynovych, described his client as a "complete and utter foot soldier" and "fodder for this type of infiltration".

Mr Scobie stated that Lavrynovych was deeply remorseful for the "shame he has brought on the family in Ukraine" and highlighted that a message from "EL" indicated that merely damaging the front door was sufficient to generate the desired media coverage.

Carpiuc, who had been residing in Romford, east London, was arrested on May 17, 2025, at Luton Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Romania.

His defence barrister, Shahid Rashid, argued that Carpiuc acted solely as "the money man" and was not set to profit directly from the crimes. Mr Rashid told the court that Carpiuc's motivation was "helping a friend out who needed money desperately for his father's medical treatment".

Speaking outside the court, family members expressed their reactions to the proceedings. Carpiuc's father stated he believed the sentencing was unfair because the individual known as "EL" had not been apprehended or punished.

Meanwhile, Lavrynovych's mother, who asked to remain anonymous, described feeling "heartbroken and ashamed".

She explained that her son's poor health had impacted his intelligence from an early age, stating that despite her efforts to protect him from "bad people", he was incredibly naive.

She added that she wished her son had been sent to the frontline in Ukraine to defend their country instead.

Concluding the case, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, praised the swift action of the investigation team in identifying the perpetrators within days of the fires, warning that crimes directed by anonymous online accounts promising financial reward are becoming a "recurring trend" in modern counter-terrorism casework.