Ukrainian guilty of vandalism at mosques linked to Russian network behind Starmer arson attack
Summary
A Ukrainian man, Illia Bilyk, admitted to spraying hateful graffiti on mosques in east London. This vandalism was connected to a Russian network involved in attacks against UK politician Sir Keir Starmer and aimed to spread hate and fear.Key Facts
- Illia Bilyk, 21, pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates' Court to five charges of racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage.
- The graffiti targeted mosques and Islamic centers in east London in January 2025.
- Bilyk said he was recruited and directed by a Russian speaker through the messaging app Telegram and was paid for the attacks.
- Earlier in 2025, two Ukrainians were jailed for arson attacks linked to the same Russian network targeting Sir Keir Starmer.
- A Russian operative called EL organized these actions remotely via social media, including running a fake far-right group called Direct Action UK.
- Images of Bilyk’s graffiti were shared in a Telegram group tied to that fake group.
- A Russian diplomat, Evgeny Lyukshin, was identified as a key figure in the operation but did not respond to inquiries.
- The incident caused distress among Muslim communities in London, and police have promised to tackle hate crimes firmly.
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