Amateur saboteurs recruited online: the UK warns of a new generation of contract attacks

British authorities say they are facing a new form of security threat involving young men recruited online to carry out attacks on behalf of criminal groups or foreign states. According to London, these "intermediaries" have become a preferred tool of hostile countries, including Russia and Iran, which deny any involvement.

The most recent case cited by the authorities concerns Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych. According to the information presented, he was contacted by someone using the pseudonym "EL Money," who offered him the opportunity to carry out three arson attacks targeting properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

On the night of May 13, 2025, Lavrynovych reportedly sent a message to this mysterious contact, expressing his desire to stay in touch and be kept informed of developments. Shortly afterward, British counter-terrorism forces raided his London home and arrested him. He was subsequently charged with arson with intent to endanger lives.

With his conviction on Monday, the 22-year-old joins a series of similar cases documented in the United Kingdom. Authorities believe that a growing number of young people, often from inexperienced criminal backgrounds, are being recruited via social media or online platforms to carry out violent missions, without always receiving the promised payment.

According to Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London, these operations are aimed at intimidating political leaders and destabilizing the country. She asserts that the evidence gathered shows a clear intention to directly target the Prime Minister and British institutions.

The United Kingdom now considers these "amateur saboteurs" to be a structured phenomenon, part of influence and destabilization strategies attributed to state actors. Russia and Iran firmly reject these accusations, denying any involvement in such clandestine operations.