London - The trial began with six men accused of being linked to Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia in an East London business, and prosecutors said Wednesday that the evidence against them was “overwhelming.”

At the trial at the Central Criminal Court in London, the prosecutor said the March 20, 2024 attack was planned by Russian agent Wagner mercenary group, a terrorist group that the British government believes is a terrorist organization.

Prosecutors said the Wagner Group recruited four men - Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, Nii Mensah, 23, and Paul English, 61, who were charged with setting fires on industrial units in the capital Leiden and burning on Leyton, providing Ukraine with Starlink Satellite satellite equipment.

Two other men - Ashton Evans, 20, and Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 23, are facing charges that they detain information about the upcoming terrorist attack.

The court was told that the fire caused about 1 million pounds ($1.35 million) in damage. Prosecutors also said there were plans to carry out similar attacks on two other businesses near Mayfair's upscale London - a wine shop called Hedonism and a restaurant called Hide. Both are owned by an unidentified Russian dissident who has been speaking out in criticizing Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian war. Prosecutors said he drove aid trucks from Britain to Ukraine.

"According to foreign influence, this is a deliberate crime," said prosecutor Duncan Penny. "As far as these defendants were concerned, they might not understand the impact when the fire broke out, and the motivation could be economical - old-fashioned greed. But for others, it seems to be both political and ideological as well."

Jurors heard the attack was carefully planned by Dylan Earl, 20, and Jake Reeves, 23, who have admitted to aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group. The Earl also admitted that the plan set fire on the two Mayfair businesses.

He said the Count was the "architect" of the attack and contacted the Wagner Group via a channel on the Telegram Message app.

"It seems that Dylan Earl expressed his willingness to carry out the 'mission of the 'Leyton arson attack'," Panny said. "It's obvious that Dylan Earl knew he was against the Ukrainians and for the sake of Russia."

The Earl was the first to charge under the National Security Act 20023, which puts in place new measures to combat espionage, political intervention and benefit from foreign intelligence services. It also gives authorities more power to search and capture property, detain and arrest suspects.

Penny said the evidence against those facing the charges was "overwhelming", with CCTV, traffic cameras and telephone evidence to be presented to the jury. He said one of the suspects Mensah filmed the arson attacking his cell phone and broadcast it live on FaceTime.