Three Men Found Guilty of Arson Linked to Wagner Group

A UK court has convicted three individuals for their involvement in an arson attack on businesses associated with Ukraine, which was allegedly orchestrated by the Wagner Group, a paramilitary organization banned in the UK.

The incident occurred on March 20, 2024, at a warehouse located in east London. The facility housed generators and Starlink satellite equipment intended for Ukraine. The attack resulted in damages estimated at around £1 million (approximately $1.35 million or EUR1.16 million).

During the trial at London's Old Bailey, the defendants, who are in their early twenties, initially pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated arson. However, a jury ultimately found them guilty. A fourth individual, aged 61, was acquitted of the charges.

The prosecution presented evidence that two of the main perpetrators had admitted their guilt before the trial, accepting responsibility for aggravated arson and a related charge under the National Security Act. According to prosecutor Duncan Penny, one of these ringleaders was acting under the direction of the Wagner Group and was aware that his actions were contrary to Ukrainian interests and aligned with Russian objectives.

CCTV footage released by the London Metropolitan Police captured the moments leading up to the attack, highlighting the premeditated nature of the crime.

The Wagner Group, initially established by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has faced accusations of involvement in various human rights violations in Ukraine, Syria, and several African nations. Following a failed rebellion against Putin in 2023, Prigozhin died in a plane crash two months later, resulting in a decline in the group's influence and its subsequent subordination to the Russian military.

This conviction underscores ongoing concerns regarding the activities of the Wagner Group and its capacity to instigate violence and disruption in relation to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.