UK judge sentences men for role in Russia-linked arson attack targeting supplies for Ukraine

Published on 24/10/2025 - 18:54 GMT+2

A judge successful nan UK sentenced 5 men for their roles successful an arson onslaught successful London connected Friday that authorities opportunity was masterminded by Russian intelligence arsenic portion of a wider run of sabotage and disruption.

The sentences ranged from 7 to 17 years successful prison.

The men were progressive successful a crippled to group occurrence to a storage successful eastbound London successful March 2024 that contained humanitarian assistance and Starlink outer instrumentality destined for Ukraine.

British prosecutors said that nan arson, organised connected behalf of nan Wagner paramilitary group, was intimately connected to nan Russian authorities and apt linked to different arson onslaught against a storage successful Spain.

Another man was sentenced for not disclosing accusation astir a crippled to group occurrence to a London restaurant.

The occurrence is 1 of astatine slightest 25 arson aliases explosives land crossed Europe linked to Russia by Western officials that nan Associated Press has documented since Moscow launched its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

"This offence was portion of a bid of European-wide sabotage operations," charismatic Duncan Penny said.

The actions of Dylan Earl, nan British man who arranged nan arson, constituted a "sustained run of coercion and sabotage connected UK soil, carried retired successful support of a overseas powerfulness — nan Russian Federation — and its warfare of aggression against Ukraine," Penny said.

The sentences were nan first imposed by a British tribunal for violating nan National Security Act, which was introduced successful 2023 to reside threats from overseas states including espionage and sabotage.