Stand behind Ukrainian independent journalism when it’s needed most. Help us reach 20,000 members.

Skip to content
Edit post

Ukrainian citizen becomes third person charged over arson attacks on UK Prime Minister's property

by Yuliia Taradiuk May 21, 2025 1:25 PM 2 min read
Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Downing Street on May 19, 2025 in London, United Kingdom (Hannah McKay - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

A Ukrainian citizen has been charged following a series of arson attacks on property linked to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Times reported on May 21.

Petro Pochynok, 34, charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, is expected to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on May 21.

Two properties and a car linked to Starmer were targeted in a fire on May 11, 12. The police said the property's entrance was damaged, but no one was injured, the Guardian reported on May 19.

"Due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have led the investigation into the fires," the London Metropolitan police said in a statement on May 15.

Previously, Roman Lavrynovych, also a Ukrainian citizen, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a Romanian citizen, were arrested.

Lavrynovych, 21, was charged on May 15. He worked as a model and a roofer.

He, on May 8, allegedly set a car that Starmer previously sold to a neighbour on fire.

On May 11, he allegedly set the front door of a home Starmer formerly lived in on fire, and on May 12, set a fire at Starmer's most recent home before moving to 10 Downing Street as U.K. Prime Minister.

Carpiuc, 26, a Russian-speaking Romanian national born in Ukraine, living in the U.K. for nine years, was also charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

He also worked as a model, and he has just recently finished a two-year business studies degree at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent.

Carpiuc was remanded in custody until an appearance at the Old Bailey on June 6.

Controversial Ukrainian ex-politician Portnov shot dead in Madrid, media reports
Andriy Portnov, a former top official in Ukraine’s ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration, was shot dead by an unidentified attacker or attackers outside the American School in Madrid, Reuters reported on May 21, citing a source close to the investigation.

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

Our goal: reach 20,000 members to prove independent journalism can survive without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise. Will you help us do it?

Can we reach 20,000 members?

News Feed

5:09 PM

Historian Timothy Ash on the 'new West' after 'Trump shock.'

With the fading U.S. global leadership under Donald Trump, Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, and growing populism at home, Europe faces a stark choice: step up or fall into irrelevance. Speaking with the Kyiv Independent on May 16, British historian Timothy Garton Ash paints a picture of a West in transition.
1:38 AM

EU to lift economic sanctions on Syria.

Top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas announced on May 20 that the EU has "agreed to lift all economic sanctions" on Syria, adding that "there can be no peace without the path to economic recovery."
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.