A Ukrainian man has pleaded guilty to spraying abusive graffiti on five Muslim institutions in east London, in attacks the BBC reports were linked to the Russian network behind arson plots targeting properties connected to former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Illia Bilyk, 21, entered guilty pleas at Thames Magistrates’ Court to five counts of racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage.

Bilyk admitted vandalising five Muslim institutions in east London.

On 23 January 2025, he targeted Stratford Islamic Association, Al-Birr Mosque, and Leyton Jamia Masjid. Two days later, he vandalised Noor Ul Islam Primary School and the Islamic Shariah Council.

According to the BBC, Bilyk told police a Russian speaker had recruited him to spray the graffiti after approaching him on the messaging app Telegram.

In June, Ukrainians Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were jailed for conspiring to carry out arson attacks targeting a property and a car connected to Sir Keir.

Lavrynovych also admitted to spraying Islamophobic graffiti on an Islamic building in south London.

A BBC and Hope not Hate investigation found that Russia was responsible for the arson attacks and that the same network carried out Islamophobic vandalism in London, including on Muslim organisations in east London which Bilyk has now admitted to vandalising.

Experts have been warning that Russian-linked influence operations are exploiting existing social and political fault lines in the UK by amplifying far-right extremist talking points and fuelling anti-Muslim sentiment.

Bilyk will be sentenced on 19 October at Stratford Magistrates’ Court.

Chief Superintendent Rhona Hunt, who leads policing in the area, said: “We recognise that these incidents caused significant distress within Muslim communities across east London last year and that they continue to cause concern.

“Anti-Muslim hate crime and Islamophobia have absolutely no place in London. We are committed to tackling hate crime while supporting and reassuring our communities.

“We would encourage anyone with concerns, or who has experienced or witnessed anti-Muslim hate crime, to contact police and report it.”

Image credit: Google – The Al-Birr Mosque in Leyton