The three accused — Roman Lavrynovych, Petro Pochynok, and Stanislav Carpiuc — deny the charges against them. Lavrynovych and Pochynok pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, while Carpiuc was not asked to enter a plea for the same charge. All three deny conspiring to damage property by fire.
The defendants, who are Ukrainian nationals except for Ukrainian-born Romanian Carpiuc, appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh. They were remanded in custody, with the next hearing on 28 November and a provisional trial date of 27 April 2026. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC told the court that the attacks were allegedly directed by a Russian-speaking Telegram contact called 'El Money' who offered cryptocurrency payments.
The prosecution argues the motive was financial reward, not political or ideological, and indicated the case is not being treated as having a terrorist connection. Atkinson said the three fires over five days went 'beyond coincidence'. Lavrynovych allegedly set fire to the front doors of the houses while occupants were asleep, intending to endanger life.
I feared what might have happened if I had not woken up.
Over 300 messages between Lavrynovych and El Money showed a 'good working relationship' and willingness to recruit others, the prosecutor said. The prosecution argues the language used by Lavrynovych suggests he was not acting out of fear. According to the Daily Mail, Roman Lavrynovych described feeling threatened by El Money.
He said he agreed to do jobs for him because he needed money for his sick father in Ukraine. Lavrynovych told the court he was offered £3,000 in cryptocurrency by El Money to set a car on fire. He said El Money told him the car fire was linked to a 'high profile person' and payment required the fire to be on the news.
Lavrynovych said he would have felt less scared with someone else helping. He said El Money first contacted him on a Telegram group for job seekers at the end of 2024. Lavrynovych testified that he was instructed to spray graffiti on an Islamic community centre in south London in December 2024 and was paid £20.
I heard two loud bangs and saw smoke and an orange glow at the front door.
He was also asked to put up posters in Southall connecting mosques with crime in April 2025. He said he knew putting up posters was illegal. The prosecution presented evidence including a petrol can and white spirit with Lavrynovych's DNA seized upon his arrest.
CCTV footage allegedly shows Lavrynovych buying white spirit at B&Q two days before the car fire. Lavrynovych messaged Carpiuc saying 'I'm waiting, bitch, listen, it's an ordinary car' and searched for the address, according to the prosecutor. The defendants were given a secret word 'geranium' to use if arrested, and the secret message was sent on 12 May, after the second fire and ahead of the third.
The day after the second arson attack in Kentish Town on 11 May, the defendants discussed payment. According to The Guardian, Judith Alexander, Starmer's sister-in-law who was occupying the prime minister's home on Countess Road, Kentish Town, described fearing what might have happened if she had not woken up. She heard two loud bangs and saw smoke and an orange glow at the front door.
My daughter was frightened and her room was above the fire.
Her daughter was frightened and her room was above the fire. Alexander, who has asthma, struggled to breathe as the house filled with smoke. The charges relate to three incidents: a vehicle fire in Kentish Town on 8 May, when a Toyota RAV4 previously owned by the prime minister was set alight on Countess Road; a fire at the prime minister's private home on the same street on 12 May; and a fire at an address where he previously lived in north-west London.
Lavrynovych denies two counts of damaging property with intent to endanger life. In a police interview, Lavrynovych denied involvement and said he was at home or visiting a friend during the fires. The true identity and location of 'El Money' remain unknown.
Whether the defendants were coerced or acted voluntarily is disputed, and the full extent of their relationship with El Money and any other handlers has not been established. The exact amount of cryptocurrency paid to the defendants, if any, is unclear, and it is not known whether there are additional suspects or a wider network involved.