A shocking case that reveals a web of espionage and criminal collaboration between Russian operatives and local gangs concluded in London's Old Bailey, as three men were found guilty of arson related to an attempted attack on a high-profile restaurant owner.
Russian Intelligence's Sinister Plot Against London Restaurant Owner Unveiled

Russian Intelligence's Sinister Plot Against London Restaurant Owner Unveiled
Russian operatives allegedly employed local criminals to execute an arson and kidnapping scheme aimed at Yevgeny Chichvarkin, owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Hide in London.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Michelin-starred Hide restaurant in London's upscale Mayfair neighborhood became the target of a nefarious plot orchestrated by Russian intelligence operatives. Yevgeny Chichvarkin, the restaurant's owner and a notable critic of President Vladimir Putin, found himself at the center of a strategic attack aimed at both kidnapping him and incinerating his establishment.
The plot came to light as a group of low-level criminals in Britain were directed by agents linked to the Russian state to carry out the concerning mission. However, law enforcement intervened before these plans were set in motion. Notably, the crew had already committed a separate act of arson prior to their apprehension, targeting a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in East London back in March 2024.
Testimonies and thousands of intercepted communications revealed during the trial painted a harrowing picture of a sophisticated network whereby Russian operatives were allegedly compensating local criminal factions to execute serious illegal activities in Europe. Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, emphasized the implications of this case, suggesting it exemplifies the use of "proxies" by Russian state-linked organizations to conduct grave crimes on foreign soil.
Following a month-long trial, a jury delivered guilty verdicts for three individuals involved in the warehouse arson. Additionally, one man was convicted for failing to report the criminal operations concerning Chichvarkin and his establishments. The plot's ringleaders, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, had already admitted their participation, adding further gravity to the court’s revelations of international tension spiraling into local criminal exploits.