In May 2025, a car that once belonged to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was set alight on a street in Kentish Town, north London. Days later, two more fires broke out at properties linked to the PM — one at an apartment he used to live in, another at the front door of a house he still owned and was renting to his sister-in-law. Nobody was hurt, but the attacks exposed a new and unsettling form of political violence: foreign-directed plots carried out by low-level operatives recruited online, combined with a parallel disinformation campaign that turned the arsonist into the star of an absurd conspiracy theory.
The three fires were the work of Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian national, who was jailed for seven years at the Old Bailey in June 2026. His accomplice, Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Ukrainian-born Romanian national, received a two-year sentence. A third man, Petro Pochynok, 35, a Ukrainian citizen, was found not guilty of conspiracy. The plot was ordered by an unknown Russian-speaking figure using the handle "EL" (translated as "El Money" or "Hroshi" in Ukrainian) on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Lavrynovych was promised £3,000 in cryptocurrency to carry out the arsons — but he was never paid.
“A Russian-linked arson plot against Keir Starmer, the resulting conspiracy theory, and what it reveals about modern political threats.”
The judge, Mr Justice Garnham, described Lavrynovych as a "useful idiot" and a "fool" who was "easily bought". He had previously been hired by the same handler to put up far-right posters. In a police interview, Lavrynovych said he had no idea who the prime minister was and had never heard of Keir Starmer. His defence barrister called him a "complete and utter foot soldier" and "fodder for this type of infiltration". Carpiuc played a supporting role, encouraging his friend and offering to help convert the cryptocurrency into cash.
The attacks quickly became the subject of a viral conspiracy theory on social media, particularly on TikTok. False claims spread that the suspects were male prostitutes ("rent boys") whom Starmer had hired for sex and then refused to pay — hence the arson. This "Rent Boy Theory" was amplified by figures including pro-Russian former MP George Galloway and far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Some attempted to link the conspiracy to Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli and even to Peter Mandelson, citing his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The BBC later revealed that reporting restrictions had prevented mainstream media from detailing the Russian connection sooner.
Why does this matter for UK readers? The case illustrates two interlocking threats. First, the ease with which foreign states can recruit willing or unwitting individuals via social media to carry out acts of domestic terrorism. Telegram, in particular, allows handlers to remain anonymous and pay in cryptocurrency, making detection difficult. Second, the speed at which disinformation — even a story as outlandish as the "rent boy" theory — can spread, fuelled by partisan accounts and algorithmically amplified. The Kremlin's motivation was clear: the UK has committed billions of pounds to Ukraine's defence against Russia's invasion. Russian state media had previously broadcast proposals to attack Britain. The arson plot was a physical attempt to intimidate the PM, while the conspiracy theory served to undermine his credibility.
Q: Who was behind the arson attacks on Keir Starmer's properties? The attacks were orchestrated by an unknown Russian-speaking figure on Telegram, referred to as "EL" or "El Money". Two men — Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc — were convicted of conspiracy to damage property by fire. Lavrynovych carried out the arsons; Carpiuc assisted. A third man was acquitted.
Q: What was the 'rent boy' conspiracy theory about Starmer? After the arson attacks, social media users falsely claimed that the suspects were male prostitutes who had been sexually involved with Starmer and that the fires were revenge for non-payment. The theory spread widely on TikTok and was endorsed by figures like George Galloway and Tommy Robinson, despite having no evidence.
Q: Why were the arsonists described as 'useful idiots'? The judge used the term to describe Lavrynovych, saying he was easily manipulated and bought for small sums of money. He was a low-level operative acting as a pawn for a foreign handler, carrying out a dangerous plot without fully understanding the political context.
What happens next? Lavrynovych and Carpiuc are now serving their sentences. The identity of "El Money" remains unknown. The case underscores ongoing concerns about online radicalisation and foreign interference in UK politics. Security services are likely to increase monitoring of recruitment via encrypted apps, and the government may face pressure to introduce tougher regulation of cryptocurrency payments and anonymous social media accounts. The conspiracy theory, meanwhile, continues to circulate in corners of the internet — a reminder that disinformation can outlive the facts that debunk it.