UK PM's Properties Targeted in Russian Destabilization Campaign, BBC Investigation Claims

London. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has claimed in its investigation that arson attacks on properties related to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer last year were part of a widespread sabotage and destabilization campaign orchestrated by Russia.

22-year-old Ukrainian citizen Roman Lavrinovich, convicted on Monday for arson conspiracy, had set fire to a house related to Prime Minister Starmer. According to the investigation, he was instructed by an unknown operator known as 'EL'.

According to messages obtained by the BBC, the operator offered Lavrinovich money to leave the city after the attack, saying, 'You attacked the house of a very high-ranking person in Britain.' However, Lavrinovich was arrested within a few hours. The investigation indicates that 'EL' could be the 23-year-old Russian diplomat Yevgeny Lyuksin. It is claimed that he is the son of a senior Russian government official and has close ties with individuals involved in information warfare activities.

According to the BBC, Russian operators attempted to spread sabotage, incitement, and social division in Britain by creating fake far-right and Muslim groups through social media and Telegram. False information was also spread about the motives behind the arson attacks on Starmer. The Russian Embassy, however, denied these allegations, stating that any attempt to link Russia to illegal activities is unacceptable.

The embassy claimed that Russia has no aggressive intentions towards Britain or its citizens. In this incident, Stanislav Karpiuk, a Romanian citizen of Ukrainian origin, was also convicted, while Petro Pochinok was acquitted by the court. The attacks initially involved arson on a Toyota car previously owned by Starmer. Subsequently, the entrance to the flat where he previously lived and later the entrance to his rented house were also set on fire.

Although the direct attackers were convicted during the trial, the detailed debate in court was not about identifying the actual person who planned and directed the operation or their motives. However, the BBC's investigation claims Russian influence behind the incident.