A gang involved in a Russian mercenary group-ordered arson attack on a London warehouse providing aid to Ukraine have been jailed for espionage, terrorism offences and causing around £1 million of damage.
Dylan Earl, along with Jake Reeves and four others, were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday for their involvement in the attack carried out at the behest of the Wagner Group, a private military organisation that acts on behalf of the Russian state.
Earl, 21, admitted planning the arson attack on industrial units in Leyton, east London, in March last year whilst working under the instruction of the Wagner Group, which is proscribed as a terror group in the UK. He was jailed for a total of 23 years, of which 17 will be spent in prison.
Reeves was sentenced to 12 years with a further year on licence. The court heard Earl, from Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, and Reeves, 24, from Croydon, south London, targeted the site because it was being used to supply humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine.
Earl recruited Reeves to help him plot the arson attack. Reeves then recruited his friend Nii Kojo Mensah to carry out the attack. Mensah recruited his friend Jakeem Rose, whilst Ugnius Asmena was also recruited to take part in the conspiracy.
It took eight fire crews, comprising 60 firefighters, to bring the blaze under control. The scale of the emergency response underscored the severity of the fire and the danger it posed to surrounding properties and residents.
The gang had plotted further arson attacks on a restaurant and wine shop in Mayfair, central London, and planned the attempted kidnapping of the owner, wealthy Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. The additional conspiracy demonstrated the group’s broader agenda of targeting Russian opposition figures and Ukrainian support networks.
Paul Hynes KC, speaking in mitigation for Earl, described him as easy meat for the very sophisticated operatives of the Wagner Group acting as proxies for the Russian Federation. He portrayed Earl as an easy puppet in the hands of others who sought praise, importance and significance and saw the world through the prism of online gaming.
Mensah, 23, from Thornton Heath, Rose, 23, of Croydon, and Asmena, 21, of no fixed address, were convicted of aggravated arson. Mensah was jailed for 10 years, Rose received nine years, and Asmena was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Ashton Evans, who helped Earl supply drugs, was also charged as part of the investigation after social media messages allegedly showed he was both aware of the arson attack and the planned offences in Mayfair.
Evans, of Newport, was found not guilty of the first count relating to the Leyton arson but guilty of the second count related to the plot to damage businesses in Mayfair. The 20-year-old was jailed for nine years with a further year on licence.
Earl pleaded guilty to preparatory conduct contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023, aggravated arson, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property. The drug offences revealed his criminal activity extended beyond the espionage-related charges.
Reeves pleaded guilty to agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11) of the NSA 2023, and aggravated arson. His admission demonstrated awareness that he was working for Russian interests.
Earl and Reeves are the first people to be convicted of offences under the National Security Act, which came into legislation at the end of 2023. The landmark convictions establish legal precedent for prosecuting foreign-directed hostile activity on British soil.
The case highlights the Wagner Group’s attempts to conduct sabotage operations within the UK targeting support for Ukraine. The private military company has been designated a terrorist organisation by the British government due to its activities.
StarLink satellite equipment has proved crucial for Ukrainian military and civilian communications during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Targeting supplies of this technology represents an attempt to degrade Ukraine’s operational capabilities.
The humanitarian aid stored at the Leyton warehouse was destined for Ukrainian civilians suffering from the consequences of Russian military aggression. Destroying such supplies constitutes an attack on innocent people caught up in the conflict.
Security services have warned of increased Russian state-directed activity on UK soil since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The arson plot represents one of the most serious incidents to reach prosecution.
The recruitment chain from Earl through Reeves to the actual perpetrators demonstrates how foreign intelligence services exploit local criminals to conduct operations. Young men seeking money, excitement or significance become vulnerable to manipulation by sophisticated operatives.
Earl’s characterisation as someone who viewed the world through online gaming suggests he may not have fully grasped the real-world consequences of his actions. However, the courts determined he bore responsibility for orchestrating a serious national security threat.
The planned kidnapping of Evgeny Chichvarkin reveals the gang’s willingness to escalate from property damage to violent crimes against individuals. Chichvarkin, a prominent Putin critic living in exile, has been vocal in his support for Ukraine.
The substantial sentences handed down send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate foreign powers conducting hostile operations on British territory. The prosecution demonstrates the effectiveness of the new National Security Act in providing tools to combat such threats.
Counter-terrorism police and security services worked together to investigate the conspiracy and bring the perpetrators to justice. The case required piecing together communications, surveillance footage and witness testimony to establish the links to Russian direction.
The Wagner Group’s involvement in directing attacks within NATO countries represents a significant escalation in hybrid warfare tactics. Using criminal proxies provides a degree of deniability whilst still achieving strategic objectives.
British authorities continue to monitor for further attempts by hostile states to conduct sabotage operations targeting Ukrainian support networks, critical infrastructure or prominent individuals. The Leyton arson case likely represents only one strand of a broader pattern of activity.
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