DID Press: Italy has expelled two Russian military attachés following a counterintelligence investigation into alleged espionage activities, prompting Moscow to condemn the move and vow reciprocal measures.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that two military attachés from the Russian Embassy in Rome had been declared persona non grata over alleged intelligence-related activities and were ordered to leave the country within three days.
According to Tajani, Italy’s Foreign Ministry formally notified the Russian ambassador in Rome of the decision. The expulsions follow a counterintelligence investigation launched by prosecutors in Rome in May 2025.
Italian authorities said the investigation led to the arrest of two former Italian intelligence officials accused of transferring classified documents and sensitive information to Russian intelligence officers in exchange for money. Security officials described the case as part of broader efforts to counter foreign intelligence infiltration into key state institutions.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned Italy’s decision and said Moscow would respond with reciprocal measures, raising the prospect of further diplomatic tensions between Russia and European countries.
Espionage allegations and reciprocal expulsions of diplomats have become a recurring feature of relations between Russia and Western countries in recent years amid heightened geopolitical tensions.