A BBC investigation has revealed evidence suggesting Russia was behind a series of arson attacks targeting political figures and entities in the UK, aimed at exacerbating social tensions and influencing public opinion. The findings indicate a coordinated plot directed by Russian intelligence services, utilizing fabricated far-right and Muslim extremist groups to create a veneer of domestic unrest.
Evidence uncovered points to a 23-year-old individual, identified as Lyukshin, the son of a senior Russian diplomat. Lyukshin allegedly trained at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), a diplomatic academy with ties to a Russian media organization known as Rybar. Within student groups at MGIMO, discussions about "conducting pro-Russian propaganda" as part of a curriculum were reportedly found. Lyukshin also administered a Telegram group called "The Lost Britain," where he posted messages in English advocating for taxpayer money to be redirected from supporting Ukraine to the UK's National Health Service.
Investigators matched Lyukshin's distinctive hoodie to photographs posted on Telegram by Rybar, which depicted him among "future diplomats" who had "trained using Rybar's manuals." The organization's director, Mikhail Zvinchuk, who has been sanctioned by the UK and is wanted by U.S. law enforcement for the TEXASvsUSA campaign, was present in the same photograph. Zvinchuk is described as being closely involved with Russian President Vladimir Putin and participating in "special working groups" related to the Ukraine war.
Photographic evidence linked to Lyukshin includes social media posts showing him in the car park of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, possessing a pass for a Russian embassy, and posing in military attire with bullets. These elements suggest potential access to sensitive information, aligning with claims made in a Telegram post by EL that Lyukshin had access to NATO and CIA documents due to his father's diplomatic postings in Europe.
Further evidence of the disinformation campaign includes messages found on phones linked to a group called Direct Action UK. These messages, posted in a public Telegram group, displayed graphics of a Union Flag, a Molotov cocktail, and a police car, with offers of payment for arson, using a Russian style for currency figures. The investigation suggests that the Russian state orchestrated these actions to inflame divisions within the UK, potentially targeting political figures such as Sir Keir Starmer, as indicated by composite imagery linking his likeness with scenes of arson and Russian symbols. IMAGE1