Ukraine accuses Russia of orchestrating attempt to assassinate prominent blogger
The attempt to kill internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who once led the local chapter of a right-wing group but is now better known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, took place on Thursday.
In a statement on Telegram, the SBU said the woman, whom it did not name, had fired several shots with a pistol, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg. The blogger said there was no danger to his life.
The woman's lawyer said in court that she did not contest the facts of the case.
Russia's FSB security service and its military intelligence agency did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the SBU's allegations.
The SBU did not specify which of Russia's several security services it believed to have recruited the woman, but said that they had last year told her to move into Sternenko's apartment block in Kyiv, and to pick up a pistol from a dead drop.
The SBU said the woman's handler told her on the morning of May 1 to kill Sternenko outside his apartment block.
The agency posted screenshots of what it said were messages between the woman and the handler and a video from a security camera showing the assassination attempt.
The accused's lawyer said the contact had told the woman that Sternenko was working for Russia's FSB.
The woman told the court that the contact, whose gender was not disclosed, had introduced themselves online as an SBU agent, and that she had initially feared them. Subsequently she had fallen in love with them despite never seeing their photo, she said.
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Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
UK airport cleaner plotted Russian-backed arson attack in London
The £1 million blaze in east London was started at a warehouse used to supply aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine as part of a plot by Russian-backer terrorist Wagner Group Three British men have been found guilty of an arson attack on a warehouse linked to Ukraine on behalf of the Russian-backed terrorist Wagner Group. About £1 million of damage was caused by the blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March 20, the Old Bailey was told. Nii Mensah, 23, livestreamed on his phone as he and Jakeem Rose, 23, set fire to the building while fixer Ugnius Asmena, 20, waited in a car, jurors heard. The attack was orchestrated by Dylan Earl, 20, with Gatwick airport cleaner Jake Reeves, 23, who had targeted the warehouse because it was being used to supply humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine. They went on to plot more arson attacks in a restaurant and wine shop in Mayfair and the kidnap of the owner, the wealthy Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. Earl and Reeves had admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and were the first to be convicted of offences under the National Security Act 2023, jurors heard. Earl had also admitted possessing cocaine and thousands of pounds in criminal cash. Following an Old Bailey trial, Mensah, Rose, and Asmena were found guilty of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life. Driver Paul English, 61, was cleared of wrongdoing. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said; "This case is clear example of an organisation linked to the Russian state using 'proxies', in this case British men, to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf. The ringleaders, Earl and Reeves, willingly acted as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state. "I am pleased that, working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, we were able to use the new National Security Act legislation, which meant the severity of Earl and Reeves's offending was reflected in the charges they faced. The warehouse arson put members of the public at great risk, and it was only by good fortune nobody was seriously injured or worse. "Those involved showed little or no regard for the potential impact of their actions on the UK's wider security. Seemingly motivated by the promise of money, they were prepared to commit criminal acts on behalf of Russia. "I hope these convictions send a strong warning of the very serious consequences of committing offences on behalf of a foreign country." Ashton Evans, 20, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts relating to the Mayfair plot but cleared of failing to tell authorities about the warehouse arson. Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, was cleared of two similar offences relating to both terrorist plots after the jury deliberated for nearly 22 hours. The case is the first to result in convictions of British criminals acting as proxies for the proscribed Wagner Group. Jurors had heard "overwhelming" evidence linking the arsonists to the warehouse attack. They were tracked by phone data and traffic cameras as Mr English drove them in his Kia Picanto through south London and the scene of the fire, which was covered by CCTV. More footage captured Rose and Mensah getting out of the vehicle, climbing over a wall and approaching the warehouses, jurors heard. As they fled the scene, Rose dropped a very large knife with his DNA on it, with Mensah later messaging Reeves to say "L9 (Rose's nickname) left his Rambo at the scene". It took eight fire crews, composed of 60 firefighters, to get the blaze under control. Afterwards, Mensah messaged Earl: "Bro there was bare smoke ... You saw it on Face Time." Later, he added: "Bro lol it's on the news ... we dun damagees (sic)." Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC said that while the arsonists were motivated by the promise of money, Earl and Reeves had orchestrated it for Russia. Earl had told a Wagner Group operative he met on Telegram he was keen to carry out a series of "missions", of which the Leyton fire was to be just the first. Reeves was also prepared to accept money from a foreign intelligence service to target the Russian dissident and his London-based businesses next, the jury was told. Earl admitted preparing to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping owner Mr Chichvarkin on behalf of the Wagner Group. The court was told the two Mayfair businesses targeted by the Wagner Group collectively employed 200 people and were valued at more than £30 million. Mr Chichvarkin was described as a "high-profile Russian dissident and refugee" who has been vocal in his criticism of President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. On April 5 2024, Reeves, from Croydon, south London, sent an unknown contact Mr Chichvarkin's name and said he would make an "amazing target". In chat, Earl's Wagner Group contact, Privet Bot, instructed him to watch the period drama The Americans and use it as a "manual" for his covert mission. The television series is set during the Cold War and is about two KGB agents posing as Americans in Washington DC to spy on the American government. In further chat with Privet Bot, wholesale drug dealer Earl appeared to brag that he had criminal connections, saying he could "sort" an introduction to the IRA and Kinahan Irish organised crime group. He was arrested in a B&Q car park in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and videos of the warehouse fire being started were found on his iPhone. In a search of his home in Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, police recovered a Russian flag, more than £20,000 in cash and cocaine hydrochloride with a street value of some £34,000. Evidence on his phone revealed details of a cryptocurrency account holding more than £58,000 and images of bundles of cash estimated to total £175,000. Following Reeves's arrest at Croydon East railway station, police uncovered videos on his phone which were taken by Mensah on the night of the arson attack. Giving evidence, Asmena, of no fixed address, denied being aware of the arson attack or hiring Mr English as the driver, telling jurors he was "just there". Mensah, of Thornton Heath, and Rose, from Croydon, had admitted arson and Rose also pleading guilty to possessing of a blade. However, both claimed the prosecution had failed to prove the fire had endangered life. Mr English, of Roehampton, told police on his arrest that he had been paid £500 by Asmena to drive but knew nothing about the fire. Evans, from Newport, Gwent, told jurors that he had got in touch with Earl to buy cocaine, which he admitted having. He claimed not to take what Earl told him seriously and went along with it to get his money back after buying drugs that were not the genuine article. Aviation engineering student Mr Paulauskus, from Croydon, told jurors he had been doing work experience at an aircraft maintenance hangar, was interested in gaming and was a "gun nerd". Born in Lithuania, he holds a joint British and Russian passport, and believed that the war with Russia was Ukraine's fault. He told jurors that he had been friends with Reeves since secondary school but did not believe anything he told him about the plots was real. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the convicted defendants would be sentenced on a date to be fixed in the autumn.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Kremlin calls minister's death ‘tragic' but gives no clues on apparent suicide
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ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Arsonists guilty of attack on Ukraine-linked warehouse in London for Wagner Group
Three men have been found guilty of an arson attack on a warehouse linked to Ukraine on behalf of the terrorist Wagner Group. About £1 million of damage was caused by the blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March 20, the Old Bailey was told. Nii Mensah, 23, had livestreamed on his phone as he and Jakeem Rose, 23, set fire to the building while fixer Ugnius Asmena, 20, waited in a car, jurors heard. The attack was orchestrated by Dylan Earl, 20, with Gatwick airport cleaner Jake Reeves, 23, who had targeted the warehouse because it was being used to supply humanitarian aid and StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine. They went on to plot more arson attacks in a restaurant and wine shop in Mayfair and the kidnap of the owner, the wealth Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. Earl and Reeves had admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and were the first to be convicted of offences under the National Security Act 2023, jurors heard. Earl had also admitted possessing cocaine and thousands of pounds in criminal cash. Following an Old Bailey trial, Mensah, Rose, and Asmena were found guilty of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life. Driver Paul English, 61, was cleared of wrongdoing. Ashton Evans, 20, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts relating to the Mayfair plot but cleared of failing to tell authorities about the warehouse arson. Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, was cleared of two similar offences relating to both terrorist plots after the jury deliberated for nearly 22 hours. The case is the first to result in convictions of British criminals acting as proxies for the proscribed Wagner Group. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said; 'This case is clear example of an organisation linked to the Russian state using 'proxies', in this case British men, to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf. 'The ringleaders, Earl and Reeves, willingly acted as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state. 'I am pleased that, working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, we were able to use the new National Security Act legislation, which meant the severity of Earl and Reeves's offending was reflected in the charges they faced. 'The warehouse arson put members of the public at great risk, and it was only by good fortune nobody was seriously injured or worse. 'Those involved showed little or no regard for the potential impact of their actions on the UK's wider security. 'Seemingly motivated by the promise of money, they were prepared to commit criminal acts on behalf of Russia. 'I hope these convictions send a strong warning of the very serious consequences of committing offences on behalf of a foreign country.' Jurors had heard 'overwhelming' evidence linking the arsonists to the warehouse attack. They were tracked by phone data and traffic cameras as Mr English drove them in his Kia Picanto through south London and the scene of the fire, which was covered by CCTV. More footage captured Rose and Mensah getting out of the vehicle, climbing over a wall and approaching the warehouses, jurors heard. As they fled the scene, Rose dropped a very large knife with his DNA on it, with Mensah later messaging Reeves to say 'L9 (Rose's nickname) left his Rambo at the scene'. It took eight fire crews, composed of 60 firefighters, to get the blaze under control. Afterwards, Mensah messaged Earl: 'Bro there was bare smoke … You saw it on Face Time.' Later, he added: 'Bro lol it's on the news … we dun damagees (sic).' Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC said that while the arsonists were motivated by the promise of money, Earl and Reeves had orchestrated it for Russia. Earl had told a Wagner Group operative he met on Telegram he was keen to carry out a series of 'missions', of which the Leyton fire was to be just the first. Reeves was also prepared to accept money from a foreign intelligence service to target the Russian dissident and his London-based businesses next, the jury was told. Earl admitted preparing to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping owner Mr Chichvarkin on behalf of the Wagner Group. The court was told the two Mayfair businesses targeted by the Wagner Group collectively employed 200 people and were valued at more than £30 million. Mr Chichvarkin was described as a 'high-profile Russian dissident and refugee' who has been vocal in his criticism of President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. On April 5 2024, Reeves, from Croydon, south London, sent an unknown contact Mr Chichvarkin's name and said he would make an 'amazing target'. In chat, Earl's Wagner Group contact, Privet Bot, instructed him to watch the period drama The Americans and use it as a 'manual' for his covert mission. The television series is set during the Cold War and is about two KGB agents posing as Americans in Washington DC to spy on the American government. In further chat with Privet Bot, wholesale drug dealer Earl appeared to brag that he had criminal connections, saying he could 'sort' an introduction to the IRA and Kinahan Irish organised crime group. He was arrested in a B&Q car park in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and videos of the warehouse fire being started were found on his iPhone. In a search of his home in Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, police recovered a Russian flag, more than £20,000 in cash and cocaine hydrochloride with a street value of some £34,000. Evidence on his phone revealed details of a cryptocurrency account holding more than £58,000 and images of bundles of cash estimated to total £175,000. Following Reeves's arrest at Croydon East railway station, police uncovered videos on his phone which were taken by Mensah on the night of the arson attack. Giving evidence, Asmena, of no fixed address, denied being aware of the arson attack or hiring Mr English as the driver, telling jurors he was 'just there'. Mensah, of Thornton Heath, and Rose, from Croydon, had admitted arson and Rose also pleading guilty to possessing of a blade. However, both claimed the prosecution had failed to prove the fire had endangered life. Mr English, of Roehampton, told police on his arrest that he had been paid £500 by Asmena to drive but knew nothing about the fire. Evans, from Newport, Gwent, told jurors that he had got in touch with Earl to buy cocaine, which he admitted having. He claimed not to take what Earl told him seriously and went along with it to get his money back after buying drugs that were not the genuine article. Aviation engineering student Mr Paulauskus, from Croydon, told jurors he had been doing work experience at an aircraft maintenance hangar, was interested in gaming and was a 'gun nerd'. Born in Lithuania, he holds a joint British and Russian passport, and believed that the war with Russia was Ukraine's fault. He told jurors that he had been friends with Reeves since secondary school but did not believe anything he told him about the plots was real. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the convicted defendants would be sentenced on a date to be fixed in the autumn.
