Two Ukrainians Get 7 and 2 Years for Starmer-Linked Arson as Russia's Sabotage Tactics Emerge
Updated
Updated · The Moscow Times · Jun 19
Two Ukrainians Get 7 and 2 Years for Starmer-Linked Arson as Russia's Sabotage Tactics Emerge
3 articles · Updated · The Moscow Times · Jun 19
Summary
Old Bailey judges sentenced Roman Lavrynovych to seven years and Stanislav Carpiuc to two for conspiring to torch two London properties linked to Keir Starmer and a Toyota RAV4 he had previously owned.
Court evidence showed the pair were recruited by a Russian-speaking handler known as “El Money,” who paid for escalating tasks, ordered the attacks to be filmed and tied payment to the publicity they generated.
The May 2025 attacks hit Starmer-linked targets shortly before and during a Kyiv visit by European leaders, suggesting the arson was meant not just to disrupt support for Ukraine but to send a personal warning to senior decision-makers.
The case exposed Russia’s wider “gig-economy” sabotage model in Europe since 2022—using low-cost online proxies, often vulnerable refugees, while tightening tradecraft through voice calls, deleted messages and disposal of phones, clothes and shoes.