Ukrainian Man Accused of Arson Attacks on Properties Linked to UK Prime Minister Says He Did Not Intend to Endanger Life

A Ukrainian man accused of carrying out arson attacks on properties and a car linked to the UK prime minister told a court he did not intend to endanger anyone's life. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, said he was recruited online by a Russian-speaking Telegram user known as El Money and was later threatened when he tried to back out of the job. He gave evidence at the Old Bailey in London on Monday.

Lavrynovych said he believed there were no people at the properties and that he carried out the attacks after being threatened by El Money, who knew where he lived with his grandmother and her elderly friend. He told the jury he needed money for his father's medical treatment in Ukraine.

The defendant said he had hoped to obtain the funds legitimately but eventually agreed to the arson job after the threats.

He was offered £3,000 in cryptocurrency to set fire to a Toyota car previously owned by the prime minister. Lavrynovych said he did not go ahead with the job at the first attempt but changed his mind after El Money's mood shifted and the person said he knew where Lavrynovych lived. The court heard that several people operated the El Money account, including at least one woman and several men.

The woman messaged him to say her husband would check the result after he set the Toyota RAV4 on fire. El Money was not satisfied with the video of the car fire because it was only two seconds long, did not show the car burning and was not reported in the news.

Lavrynovych was then instructed to set fire to a building on Ellington Street that he was told would look like an office and that no one would be inside at the specified time.