Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his satisfaction that justice has been served following the conviction of two men for arson attacks on property linked to him. Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were found guilty on Monday of conspiring to commit arson attacks on property and a car in 2025.

The verdicts came shortly after a BBC Panorama investigation revealed evidence suggesting Russia was behind the attacks. Speaking from the G7 summit in France, Sir Keir stated he was "very pleased for my family's sake" that the men were convicted, adding that "justice has been done." He emphasized that the attack on his property should be viewed within the broader context of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

Prosecutors detailed that the arson attacks were orchestrated in 2025 after a suspect was recruited online by a Russian-speaking Telegram user identified as "El Money." This user reportedly promised payment for the acts. The BBC investigation further uncovered evidence indicating that "El Money" is likely Evgeny Lyukshin, a 23-year-old Russian diplomat and son of a senior official, who allegedly received training in information warfare.

Sir Keir highlighted the significance of the convictions while calling for increased pressure on Moscow from the G7. He linked the incident to broader geopolitical tensions, citing Ukrainian territorial gains and the impact of sanctions on Russia. The UK has recently imposed 70 new sanctions on Russia, targeting its "shadow fleet" used for oil and gas transport and financial networks involved in evading Western sanctions.

The recent sanctions announcement followed the boarding of an alleged Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel on Sunday. The BBC's investigation into the arson attacks also found that "El Money" offered Russian citizenship in exchange for further attacks and expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Disinformation campaigns originating from Russian-based accounts reportedly aimed to obscure the motive behind the attacks.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sir Richard Moore, the former head of MI6, warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to intimidate the UK through acts of sabotage, arson, and cyber attacks. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Richard suggested that such proxy attacks necessitate a national discussion on the balance of resources allocated to security and defense.

While the UK government and intelligence services have not yet officially confirmed the Kremlin's direct involvement, Sir Richard commended the BBC's investigative reporting for bringing these connections to light. The case underscores the escalating tactics employed in the ongoing conflict and its reach into Western nations.

Further details of the recruitment process and the specific methods used to conceal the attackers' identities are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings continue. The incident raises questions about the vulnerability of public figures and critical infrastructure to state-sponsored covert operations.