In London, a verdict was delivered for the arson of a warehouse providing aid to Ukraine: details of the case

A court in London has heard the case against six men involved in the arson of a warehouse filled with humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The fire, carried out on the orders of Russia, caused damages of about £1.3 million.

This was reported by 'Glavkom', citing the BBC.

The leader of the group has been identified as 21-year-old Dylan Earl from Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire. He was recruited by the 'Wagner group', which operates on behalf of the Russian state and is designated as a terrorist organization by the UK government. Earl received a 17-year prison sentence with an additional six years of extended supervision.

Pre-trial investigations revealed that prior to his arrest, Earl had planned several other crimes - including the arson of a restaurant and a wine shop in Mayfair, as well as the kidnapping of their owner, the well-known Russian dissident Yevgeny Chichvarkin. During a search, a video of the warehouse arson was found on the defendant's phone.

Earl's accomplice, 24-year-old Jake Reeves, pleaded guilty and received a 12-year prison sentence with one year of supervision. He assisted in recruiting other members of the group. These are the first convictions under the provisions of the National Security Act 2023.

Sentences for other accomplices

• Nii Mensah, 23 years - 9 years imprisonment;
• Ashton Evans, 20 years - 9 years;
• Jaykim Rose, 23 years - 8 years and 10 months;
• Ugnis Asmene, 21 years - 7 years.

All four will also be subject to one year of extended supervision after their release. The British counter-terrorism police described the incident as a 'planned campaign of terrorism and sabotage' in the interests of Russia. Security Minister Dan Jarvis stated that the sentences serve as a 'clear signal: the UK will not tolerate hostile activities from foreign states'.

A verdict has been issued in London for six men who set fire to a warehouse providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine on the orders of Russia. The group leader received 17 years in prison, and his accomplice received 12 years. Four other participants in the incident were also sentenced to prison terms. The sentences are considered an important step in combating terrorism and hostile activities of foreign states on British territory.