Italy has officially ordered the expulsion of two Russian military attaches, citing their involvement in espionage activities that were uncovered by the Rome public prosecutor’s office. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the decision, condemning what he described as “serious and unacceptable acts of interference” directed by Moscow against Italian institutions and national security.
The two individuals named by the minister are Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov. They have been formally instructed to depart from Italy within a three-day window. This move comes just two days after Italian police arrested two former intelligence agents on charges related to providing sensitive military secrets to Russia, specifically concerning military aid intended for Ukraine.
According to police reports, one of the detained Italians—a 59-year-old former officer—allegedly received payments from a Russian handler. Investigators claim he disclosed classified information through six distinct sources, including four active military personnel who held high-level security clearances. Media reports suggest the shared intelligence included details on the Italian-French SAMP/T air defense system and Aster missiles destined for Kyiv. Furthermore, Russian handlers reportedly sought data regarding a NATO mission in Bulgaria and technical specifications from the Italian firm Avio, which manufactures components for drones and supersonic missiles.
While local newspapers like Corriere della Sera and La Stampa allege the suspect provided thousands of items of information over a 12-year period, including the identities of counter-espionage agents, a lawyer for the accused has denied any treason. The defense asserts that the man merely gathered information that was already publicly available and is scheduled for formal questioning this Friday.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto characterized the incident as merely the “tip of the iceberg” regarding Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics during its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This is not the first instance of such friction; in 2024, an Italian court convicted a navy captain for selling classified documents to the Russian embassy, leading to a prior round of diplomatic expulsions.
In response to the current decision, the Russian foreign ministry, as quoted by the state agency RIA Novosti, indicated that Moscow intends to provide an appropriate response. Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to Italy, Sergei Paramonov, claimed the expulsion is an attempt by the Italian foreign ministry to minimize Russia’s influence within the country.
Quoting a recording of the suspect's telephone conversations, La Stampa newspaper said the man gave "thousands" of items of information over a 12-year period.
