British law enforcement is investigating a series of arsons targeting properties associated with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Three individuals of Ukrainian origin have been detained on suspicion of involvement in the crimes. An analysis of one suspect’s social media activity suggests possible connections to Russian security services.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Investigation Details
Twenty-one-year-old Roman Lavrynovych was actively seeking work through Telegram channels for foreigners in London from 2022 to 2025. His last message regarding job opportunities was posted on May 3 – five days before the first arson. The suspect was last online on Telegram on May 13, just hours before his arrest.
“Telegram channels are a modern method of drawing in people who find themselves in difficult situations and are trying to find their way in life. Moreover, Ukrainians often look for jobs not on Polish or British websites, but frequently on Russian-speaking ones,” emphasized former Deputy Head of the SBU Viktor Yahun.
Chronology of Arsons and Arrests
The series of arsons occurred in May 2025. On May 8, a car previously owned by Starmer caught fire. On May 11, a fire broke out in a building where the Prime Minister lived in the 1990s. On May 12, an arson took place in a residential building linked to the politician’s family.
In addition to Lavrynovych, police arrested 26-year-old Stanislav Karpyuk and 34-year-old Petro Pochynok. Lavrynovych and Pochynok have been charged as citizens of Ukraine, while Karpyuk, who was born in Chernivtsi, holds Romanian citizenship.
According to the Financial Times, citing senior British government officials, British intelligence services are investigating possible Russian involvement in these incidents. The head of the Department for Documenting War Crimes of the Main Investigative Department of the National Police of Ukraine confirmed cooperation with British colleagues in the investigation and the existence of connections between the detainees and foreign intelligence services.
All three suspects deny any involvement in the crimes. The Russian side also rejects any accusations of involvement in organizing the arsons.