Kathrine Frich
Officials say Russia has resorted to this tactic following the expulsion of its spies in 2018.
Officials say Russia has resorted to this tactic following the expulsion of its spies in 2018.
Linked to Wagner Group
Three British men have been found guilty of aggravated arson after setting fire to London warehouses that stored equipment bound for Ukraine.
Authorities say the attacks were ordered by the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group in a plot with international implications.
Fires Caused Over £1 Million in Damage
The coordinated attacks, which took place in 2024, targeted companies that supply satellite communication devices, specifically Elon Musk’s Starlink equipment, a critical tool for Ukrainian defense forces.
The fires caused more than £1 million in damages, according to officials.
First Conviction Under New National Security Law
Dylan Earl, 21, considered the ringleader of the group, previously pleaded guilty to the arson charges.
He also became the first person convicted under the UK’s new National Security Act after admitting to plotting a separate attempted kidnapping of a Putin critic in Mayfair.
Additional Guilty Pleas and Convictions
Jake Reeves, 23, also pleaded guilty to aggravated arson and receiving benefits from a foreign intelligence agency.
Three others, Nii Kojo Mensah, Jakeem Rose, and Ugnius Asmena, were found guilty by a jury on July 8. A sixth man, Paul English, 61, was acquitted.
Emotional Verdicts for Two Other Suspects
Ashton Evans, 20, was convicted of one count of failing to report a terrorist plot but acquitted on a second charge.
Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 23, was acquitted of both and broke down in tears upon hearing the verdict, nodding in relief at the jury’s decision.
Russia Accused of Outsourcing Sabotage to Criminals
British intelligence believes the Wagner Group, long known for its operations in Ukraine, Africa, and Syria, is now using criminal proxies within the UK to conduct sabotage.
Officials say Russia has resorted to this tactic following the expulsion of its spies in 2018.
A Pattern of Russian Espionage Activity in the UK
This case follows the March 2025 conviction of several Bulgarians accused of spying for Moscow.
UK intelligence chiefs have warned of Russia’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Western nations through espionage, sabotage, and influence operations.
Wagner Operative Recruited Through Telegram
Authorities revealed that Earl was in regular contact with someone known as “Privet Bot” on Telegram, an account previously linked to Wagner via the Grey Zone channel.
He reportedly exchanged hundreds of messages and sought ties to radical and criminal groups.
Commander: Russian State Likely Behind Plot
Commander Dominic Murphy of London’s Counter Terrorism Command believes the Russian state directly entrusted Wagner with these tasks.
“We’ve made the UK a hostile environment for these governments, so they’ve turned to young, criminal intermediaries,” he said.
Criminals Lured by Money, Ideology, and Connections
Officials believe Moscow’s new approach relies on recruiting disaffected or financially motivated young people.
Some, like Earl, even expressed a desire to fight for Wagner directly, despite the group being designated as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Britain Braces for More Attacks
Commander Murphy warned this likely won’t be the last case of its kind.
“I expect other similar actions,” he said, citing ongoing concerns about criminal proxies acting on behalf of hostile foreign powers such as Russia and Iran.
