London, United Kingdom — Two British men have been handed long prison sentences for orchestrating a series of arson attacks and acts of sabotage across the UK on behalf of the Russian Wagner Group, marking a historic conviction under Britain’s National Security Act 2023.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb, exposes a chilling new dimension of Russian influence operations — one that uses local proxies to carry out terrorism and espionage on British soil.
British Wagner Agents Sentenced for Terror Campaign
The convicted men — Dylan Earl, 21, and Jake Reeves, 24 — were accused of coordinating a “sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage” with direct support from the Russian state-funded Wagner mercenary group, prosecutors told the court.
Judge Cheema-Grubb sentenced Earl to 17 years in prison, followed by six additional years on extended licence, describing him as the “ringleader” of the network. Reeves received a 12-year sentence with a further year on licence for helping recruit others and spreading Wagner propaganda.
“This was not reckless vandalism,” the judge said. “It was an organised campaign designed to advance the objectives of a hostile foreign power against the United Kingdom.”
Plot Targeted Aid for Ukraine and Business Figures
Investigators revealed that Earl had been in direct communication with Wagner Group handlers via encrypted Telegram chats. The evidence showed he planned multiple attacks, including the March 2024 arson at a London warehouse storing humanitarian aid and Starlink satellite equipment destined for Ukraine.
The warehouse blaze, which caused over £1 million in damages, endangered dozens of firefighters and was filmed by Earl himself. Authorities also uncovered discussions about a plot to kidnap a high-profile British tech entrepreneur — identified as the co-founder of Revolut — and to destroy another facility in the Czech Republic.
Reeves, meanwhile, served as the recruiter, enlisting other young men to carry out attacks and manage logistics. Police described him as “deeply radicalised by pro-Wagner propaganda.”
“Hostile Agents” Acting for the Russian State
Speaking after the verdict, Dominic Murphy, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, called the case “a stark warning” about the evolution of Russian espionage tactics.
“Earl and Reeves acted willingly as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state,” Murphy said. “This is a clear example of how groups linked to Moscow use proxies — British citizens — to conduct sabotage and intimidation campaigns in the UK.”
He added that in recent years, counterintelligence services have documented “a significant rise in state-sponsored operations,” often blending online recruitment, cyberwarfare, and covert financing.
“This new model of proxy warfare is a direct threat to our national security,” Murphy warned.
Wagner Group’s Shadow Across Europe
The Wagner Group, founded by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been accused of war crimes across Ukraine, Syria, and several African nations. Though officially disbanded after Prigozhin’s death in 2023, Western intelligence agencies say Wagner’s remnants continue to operate under Russian military supervision — rebranded but still serving the Kremlin’s interests.
British officials have long suspected that Wagner operatives were behind sabotage plots targeting UK infrastructure and pro-Ukraine networks. The latest case is the strongest legal proof yet linking the mercenary outfit directly to crimes committed inside the UK.
Five More Sentenced in Related Wagner Arson Case
Friday’s ruling follows earlier convictions of five other men tied to the same Wagner-directed campaign. In July, Nii Mensah (23), Jakeem Rose (23), and Ugnius Asmena (21) were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to nine years for their involvement in the East London warehouse attack.
Another defendant, Ashton Evans (20), received a nine-year sentence for withholding critical information about separate arson plots targeting two central London businesses owned by a Russian dissident.
The National Security Act 2023, under which these cases were prosecuted, modernised Britain’s espionage laws to confront “foreign interference, sabotage, and information warfare” — threats that have escalated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
UK Intelligence Warns of Russia’s ‘Havoc and Destruction’ Campaign
Officials at MI5, the UK’s domestic intelligence agency, said Moscow has launched an “aggressive sabotage and misinformation effort” aimed at destabilising British institutions and undermining support for Ukraine.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum recently told Parliament that Russia remains “committed to causing havoc and destruction in the United Kingdom and across Europe.”
Just this week, three more men were arrested in London on suspicion of spying for Russia, also charged under the National Security Act. Authorities have not yet disclosed details of their alleged activities, but they are suspected of “assisting a foreign intelligence service.”
A Wake-Up Call for Western Democracies
Security analysts say the convictions mark a turning point in how the UK confronts hybrid warfare — where cyberattacks, disinformation, and covert sabotage blend to challenge national resilience.
“This case shows that Russia no longer needs to send agents with diplomatic cover,” said Dr. Fiona Harding, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). “They can radicalise young men online, promise them money or ideology, and weaponise them against their own country.”
For many, the message from the court is clear: the Wagner Group’s reach extends far beyond the battlefield — and the front line may now run through the streets of London.
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