In the early hours of 13 May 2025, British police officers burst into the south London flat where a young Ukrainian construction worker was sleeping and arrested him on suspicion of committing arson.
The three fires started by Roman Lavrynovych, 22, had a particular target – property linked to Sir Keir Starmer . At the trial where he was convicted, prosecutors said that the fires were commissioned by an unidentified Russian-speaking account on Telegram, which promised payment in cryptocurrency.
British investigators have not linked the plot directly to the Russian state, but Russian intelligence agents have previously commissioned arson attacks in Britain using similar methods of online recruitment and payments through anonymous accounts. Ukrainian nationals have been used as Russia’s proxies for sabotage missions in several European countries.
Shorts
The person behind the Telegram account that instructed Lavrynovych has been identified by the BBC as Evgeny Lyukshin, a 23-year-old Russian diplomat who studied information warfare at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
But on social media, a very different explanation emerged – a conspiracy theory falsely claiming that the arsonists were male prostitutes seeking revenge on the Prime Minister.
Russian disinformation networks ‘amplify false stories’
Research by The i Paper and the Center for Countering Digital Hate has charted the spread of the false rumour from a handful of small X accounts, through a network of far right activists and conspiracy theorists, into Russian media outlets and widespread online circulation.
Two weeks after the fires, X posts promoting the “rent boy” conspiracy theory had been viewed almost 18 million times.
Melanie Smith, an information operations expert at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said that although the accounts that originally posted the “rent boy” claim did not appear to be part of Russian disinformation networks, those networks later spread the story.
“We do see them quite often pick up and amplify stories that are provably false,” she said. Russian propagandists “monitor the online ecosystem” – particularly the far right in Europe – “trying to figure out which narratives are circulating and which ones of those work to their advantage”.
The first fire targeted a car that Starmer had previously owned, which went up in flames on a residential London street at 3am on 8 May last year, prosecutors said. Three days later, the front door of a property that Starmer owned in the 1990s was set on fire and on 12 May , the townhouse he shared with his family before moving to 10 Downing Street in 2024 was also targeted.
No one was injured in the three attacks, but news reports quickly spread about the link to Starmer, and the motivation became a key point of public speculation.
How the false rumour spread
Less than 15 minutes after Lavrynovych was arrested, and before the arrest was made public by the police, an account on X describing itself as a British “patriot” claimed to have the answer. “Angry unpaid rent boy,” it wrote in reply to a British news aggregator with more than 400,000 followers, which had reported the latest blaze.
No source for the false claim was provided, but after the police announced the arrest five hours later, the same account repeated the allegation in response to a prominent British far-right influencer. That influencer, who has around 340,000 followers, including Elon Musk, went on to post the “rent boy” narrative himself.
A car was set alight in one of three arson attacks at locations linked to Starmer
At around the same time – 8am on 13 May 2025 – a second account began posting the same claim. The self-described “truth bomber” wrote: “Sources: No10 in crisis as police prepare to name Starmer arsonist as rent boy.”
Over the coming hours, the account posted the same claim several times, increasing its visibility by replying directly to Starmer’s tweets, as well as a prominent journalist and the same far-right influencer and news account used by the initial poster. Neither account responded to requests to discuss the posts.
Two other X accounts, both containing content critical of the Labour Government, shared the claim that a “rent boy” was behind the fires on 13 May, at a time when the police had not published any information on the arrested man other than that he was a 21-year-old.
The false rumour gained traction two days later when Lavrynovych was charged, named by the police and reported by the British media as having a profile on a photography website describing himself as a “beginner model” open to “any work at a rate of 20 per hour”.
The unevidenced claim that Lavrynovych was a male prostitute was amplified by prominent far right activists and conspiracy theorists, and the same false allegation was later made toward his two co-defendants.
Lavrynovych was commissioned by an unidentified Russian-speaking account on Telegram and promised payment in cryptocu…
Read the full article at iNews →📄Source document: Old Bailey Court Records
12 reports
BBC News (UK)State / PublicCenter2 days agoTwo men, Stanislav Carpiuc and Roman Lavrynovych, were sentenced to prison for conspiring to carry out arson attacks targeting property and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Lavrynovych was recruited via a Russian-speaking Telegram user named 'EL' and was described by the judge as a 'useful idiot' who was 'easily bought.' Carpiuc played a supporting role in the attacks, which were deemed 'utterly reckless.' The attacks included setting fire to a Toyota once owned by Starmer and two homes, one of which was rented to Starmer's sister-in-law.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the legal proceedings against individuals involved in arson attacks linked to the UK Prime Minister. It includes direct quotes from the court and avoids overtly biased language or selective sourcing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the legal判决,
Official sources cited
- court Old Bailey Court Records
- court Mr Justice Garnham
The Guardian (UK)IndependentCenter2 days agoTwo men, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were sentenced to prison for arson attacks on properties associated with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Lavrynovych was found guilty of setting fires on a car and two properties linked to Starmer, while Carpiuc received a shorter sentence. During the trial, it was revealed that an anonymous individual known as 'El Money' recruited Lavrynovych through Telegram, offering payment in exchange for carrying out the attacks. Another suspect, Petro Pochynok, was acquitted. The fires occurred in May 2025, targeting vehicles and homes connected to Star默
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details of a legal case involving individuals who targeted properties linked to a prominent political figure. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the legal proceedings and evidence.
Official sources cited
- court Court records from the Old Bailey
Daily MirrorParty-alignedRight2 days agoTwo men, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were sentenced to prison for setting fires at properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The attacks were allegedly ordered by an individual with suspected ties to the Russian state. The court heard that the fires occurred during the night and posed a significant risk to lives.
Bias read (Right): The article frames the defendants as acting under the direction of a 'shadowy taskmaster' with 'alleged links to the Russian state,' which implies a connection to foreign interference without providing balanced context or alternative perspectives. This framing aligns with a right-leaning narrative,
Official sources cited
- court Old Bailey Court Proceedings
The Guardian (UK)IndependentLeft2 days ago Telegram questioned by Ofcom after arsonist who targeted Starmer-linked properties recruited on appTelegram is under scrutiny from UK communications regulator Ofcom following the conviction of a Ukrainian man for arson attacks on properties linked to Labour leader Keir Starmer. The suspect was allegedly recruited through Telegram by an individual connected to a Russian-based sabotage network. Ofcom has asked Telegram to clarify its processes for detecting and preventing illegal incitement.
Bias read (Left): The article focuses on a legal case involving a UK political figure (Keir Starmer) and highlights concerns about Telegram's role in facilitating potentially illegal activities. While the article presents facts neutrally, the emphasis on the platform being questioned by a UK regulatory body (Ofcom) —
Official sources cited
- government Ofcom statement
- government Metropolitan Police
The Guardian (UK)IndependentLeft3 days ago Russia-linked arson attacks show bad actors targeting UK, says StarmerPrime Minister Keir Starmer stated that recent arson attacks linked to Russia demonstrate that the UK is facing threats from actors seeking to destabilize democracy. Two individuals, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on properties associated with Starmer. They reportedly acted under the direction of someone with ties to Russia. The sentencing occurs amid increased tensions between Russia and the UK, including incidents involving a Russian vessel in the Channel and a Russian warship firing warning shots at a British yacht.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements regarding the arson attacks and Russia’s involvement without overtly critical language or alternative perspectives. It emphasizes Starmer’s narrative about the threat posed by Russia and includes his direct quotes expressing concern over
The IndependentIndependentLeft5 days agoCampaigners have called for a public inquiry into alleged Russian interference in UK politics following arson attacks linked to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Two men were convicted for setting fires connected to Starmer’s properties, allegedly acting under the direction of a Russian-speaking individual known as 'El Money.' A BBC investigation suggested El Money may have ties to high-level figures in Russia, though authorities have not confirmed such connections.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the issue as a serious matter of national security and calls for a public inquiry, emphasizing potential Russian state involvement. It highlights the actions of a group linked to a Russian-speaking figure and cites activist groups like Hope Not Hate, which tend to take strong st立场
iNewsIndependentLeft5 days agoThe article discusses Russia's ongoing threats against Western democracies under Vladimir Putin, highlighting various methods such as cyber attacks, disinformation, and societal manipulation. It references a case where two individuals were convicted for setting fire to a car previously owned by the UK Prime Minister and other properties linked to Labour Party figures. The suspects were allegedly recruited through a Russian-speaking Telegram user named 'El Money' and offered cryptocurrency payments without being aware of the broader political implications.
Bias read (Left): The article frames Russia's actions as an existential threat to Western democracy and highlights the involvement of UK-based individuals in acts of sabotage, which aligns with a left-leaning perspective emphasizing state-sponsored aggression and the need for vigilance against foreign interference. S
Official sources cited
- organisation BBC Panorama documentary
The Guardian (UK)IndependentLeft6 days ago Handler with ties to Russia appears to have directed arson attacks on Starmer-linked propertyTwo men, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property linked to UK Labour leader Keir Starmer. They reportedly acted under the direction of an online handler known as 'El Money,' who communicated via Telegram using Russian and Ukrainian. A third suspect, Petro Pochynok, was acquitted. Reports suggest the attacks may have been coordinated through a network linked to Russia, though prosecutors have not formally charged anyone associated with this handler.
Bias read (Left): The article focuses on an alleged attack on property linked to Keir Starmer, a prominent Labour Party leader, which is a politically sensitive issue in the UK. While the article presents facts without overtly biased language, it emphasizes the connection to a Russian-linked handler, potentially ampl
iNewsIndependentCenter6 days ago Starmer was targeted by sex worker conspiracy straight from Putin’s playbookOn 13 May 2025, British police arrested a Ukrainian construction worker named Roman Lavrynovych for starting fires targeting properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer. Prosecutors stated the attacks were orchestrated via a Russian-speaking Telegram account offering cryptocurrency payments. While no direct link to the Russian state has been confirmed, similar tactics have been used by Russian intelligence. A Russian diplomat, Evgeny Lyukshin, was identified as potentially behind the Telegram account. A conspiracy theory suggesting male prostitutes were involved gained traction on social media, but此
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details about an arrest and investigation without overtly favoring any political side. It mentions a conspiracy theory but does not endorse it, maintaining a neutral tone.
Financial TimesParty-aligned🔒Right6 days agoThe article discusses arson attacks targeting Keir Starmer's properties and suggests a Russian origin for these incidents.
Bias read (Right): The article implies a Russian connection without providing substantial evidence or balanced perspectives, suggesting a potential bias towards attributing such actions to foreign adversaries.
BBC News (UK)State / PublicLeft6 days ago Russia was behind arson attacks targeting PM, BBC revealsThe BBC has revealed that a series of arson attacks targeting properties associated with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were part of a broader Russian campaign involving sabotage, provocation, and disinformation. The investigation traced these actions back to a Russian diplomat named Evgeny Lyukshin, who allegedly orchestrated the attacks through an intermediary, offering incentives such as Russian citizenship and praising President Vladimir Putin.
Bias read (Left): The article presents the Russian government as directly involved in orchestrating acts of sabotage against a British political figure, using specific details about a Russian diplomat and his alleged ties to Russian intelligence. This framing aligns with a perspective that criticizes Russian state行为,
Official sources cited
- court Roman Lavrynovych
- government Evgeny Lyukshin
Financial TimesParty-aligned🔒Right6 days ago Arson targeting Keir Starmer properties originated in RussiaThe article states that arson attacks targeting properties associated with Keir Starmer originated in Russia. It mentions that Handler was linked to a pro-Kremlin hacktivist group.
Bias read (Right): The article attributes the arson attacks to Russia and links an individual to a pro-Kremlin group without providing balanced context or counter-narratives, suggesting a potential ideological framing.
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