UK court convicts three men over Wagner Group-ordered arson targeting Ukraine-linked warehouse in London, causing £1 million in damage.

A UK court has found three young men guilty in connection with an arson attack targeting businesses linked to Ukraine, an incident that British authorities say was orchestrated by the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization. The three individuals, all in their early 20s, had pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated arson but were found guilty by a jury on Tuesday at the Old Bailey in London. A fourth man, aged 61, who had also faced charges, was acquitted by the court.

Prior to the trial, two of the accused who were identified as the ringleaders of the plot admitted their involvement. Both men, also in their early 20s, pleaded guilty to aggravated arson as well as a separate charge brought under the UK’s National Security Act, acknowledging their roles in the politically motivated attack.

During the proceedings, lead prosecutor Duncan Penny told the court that one of the ringleaders was “knowingly acting at the behest of the Wagner Group.” He emphasized that the individual was fully aware that his actions were meant to damage Ukrainian interests and promote the objectives of Russia. The Wagner Group has been officially banned in the United Kingdom and is listed as a terrorist organization due to its involvement in various acts of violence and destabilization.

The arson attack in question took place on March 20, 2024, and was aimed at a warehouse located in East London. The facility was being used to store generators and Starlink satellite equipment, both of which were intended to be sent to Ukraine as part of ongoing international support efforts. The fire caused extensive destruction, with damages estimated to be around £1 million, which is equivalent to approximately $1.35 million or €1.16 million.

Prosecutors alleged that the operation was planned by individuals linked to the Wagner Group who were acting as agents of Russia’s military intelligence. The incident forms part of a broader pattern of covert attacks attributed to Russian interests and their proxies, aimed at undermining support for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The Wagner Group, originally formed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman and close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has a well-documented history of involvement in conflict zones. It has been accused of perpetrating human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, and several African nations where it has operated in support of Russian geopolitical goals.

In 2023, Prigozhin led a brief and ultimately unsuccessful rebellion against the Kremlin. Just two months after the mutiny, he died in a plane crash under suspicious circumstances. Following his death, the Wagner Group’s influence declined significantly, and the organization was brought under tighter control by Russia’s official armed forces, effectively ending its semi-autonomous operations.