Spy wars escalate: Italy-Russia diplomatic ties hit new low

Russia has ordered on 21 July the expulsion of Italy’s military attaché in Moscow, Vittorio Parrella, and his assistant, Davide D’Aprile, giving them just three days to leave the country with their families. The move, announced by Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova following the summoning of Italy’s chargé d’affaires Giovanni Scopa, represents an escalation in the ongoing diplomatic confrontation between the two nations.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the Russian action as “blatant retaliation” and “unjustified,” directly linking it to Italy’s recent decision to expel two Russian military attachés from Rome. Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov were declared persona non grata after Italian authorities accused them of espionage activities detrimental to national security. Tajani emphasized on X that the pair had been “caught red-handed,” underscoring that Rome’s decision was grounded in concrete evidence rather than political whimsy.

Rising tensions between Italy and Russia following arrests for espionage by Rome prosecutors

Retaliation and mutual accusations

The tit-for-tat expulsions highlight the fragile state of bilateral relations, already severely strained by Italy’s consistent support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The latest incident stems from a broader investigation by Rome’s Prosecutor’s Office into alleged Russian intelligence infiltration. According to Italian officials, Astakhov served as the primary contact for two former Italian intelligence figures arrested in connection with the passing of classified information to Moscow. One of the suspects, retired Carabinieri officer Gavino Raoul Piras, is accused of managing a network that included active-duty military personnel in sensitive positions.

Russian authorities framed their response as a matter of “reciprocity,” declaring Parrella and D’Aprile persona non grata on the same grounds Italy had cited. Zakharova warned that Moscow would deliver an “appropriate response,” while Russian Ambassador to Italy Alexey Paramonov launched a pointed attack on Italian diplomacy via Telegram. Paramonov accused the Italian Foreign Ministry, particularly Secretary General Riccardo Guariglia, of seeking to curtail Russian influence in the country. He contrasted the leadership caliber of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with what he portrayed as Italy’s current lack of comparable political figures, expressing hope that Italy might regain its traditional autonomy and prestige.

Tajani pushed back firmly, stating that Russia could retaliate as it wished, but such actions would amount to mere political revenge unless Moscow could substantiate espionage claims against the Italian diplomats. “Ours is a decision based on facts; theirs is political,” he asserted. The exchange has further poisoned the atmosphere, with both sides summoning the other’s representatives in rapid succession.

A pattern of expulsions amid hybrid tensions

This episode is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring cycle of diplomatic expulsions that dates back several years. In April 2022, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, Italy, coordinating with European and NATO allies, expelled 30 Russian diplomats under then-Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. Moscow retaliated weeks later by expelling 24 Italian officials, leaving both embassies operating with reduced staff. Similar tit-for-tat measures occurred in 2021 following the high-profile arrest of Italian Navy officer Walter Biot, who was later sentenced to 20 years for passing classified documents to a Russian handler. Even earlier, in 2018, Russia expelled Italian diplomats in solidarity with responses to the Skripal poisoning case in the United Kingdom.

These incidents reflect deeper structural tensions. Italy’s staunch backing of Kyiv, including military aid and political support, has drawn repeated verbal attacks from Moscow. President Sergio Mattarella faced sharp criticism from Zakharova in 2023 for comparing Russian actions to those of the Third Reich, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been labeled a “traitor” by Russian state media figures like Vladimir Solovyov.

The current scandal has amplified concerns about Russian hybrid operations targeting Italy. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto described the espionage case as “the tip of a gigantic iceberg” in Moscow’s efforts to undermine Italian institutions, alliances, and security. Prosecutors have gathered evidence against Piras and others, including claims of a network involving six sources. Italian intelligence has also warned European partners about rising hostile activities, ranging from espionage and cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns designed to erode public trust in the EU and NATO.

As Italy approaches general elections next year, these developments carry particular weight. Experts worry that Russian influence operations could seek to exploit domestic political divisions, amplifying narratives favorable to Moscow. The arrests and subsequent diplomatic fallout coincide with similar reports across Europe of Russian intelligence using “one-time agents” and attempting to infiltrate sensitive industries, such as drone manufacturing in Lithuania or operations in Germany and Austria.

Despite the rhetoric, both nations maintain diplomatic channels, however strained. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations continues to serve as the formal framework, though its provisions are increasingly tested by mutual suspicions.

Sources: FocusЕurope.it, ANSA, Reuters

Caption: Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St. Petersburg, Russia, 3 June 2026. The 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum runs from 03 to 06 June 2026. EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV