Russia orders Italian military attache and aide to leave Moscow

Russia ordered the expulsion of an Italian military attache and one of his aides from Moscow on Monday, saying the move was retaliation for Italy expelling two Russian military attaches earlier this month.

Russia's foreign ministry said the officials and their family members must leave Russian territory within three days. It said the decision was made on the basis of reciprocity.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani criticised the Russian move in a post on X, saying Rome had expelled the Russian attaches for spying and that Moscow's response was without cause.

Relations between Russia and Italy have been strained by Italy's support for Kyiv in the Ukraine war and by recent accusations of Russian espionage.

Italy ordered the expulsion of the Russian military attaches on July 9 after police announced the arrests of two former Italian intelligence agents. Media reports said they were suspected of giving Moscow secrets about military aid to Ukraine. Tajani said at the time that Moscow was using hybrid warfare to attack the West and Italy, and called the acts serious and unacceptable.

Police in Rome said one of the arrested Italians, a 59-year-old former intelligence officer, gave his Russian handler information through six sources, including four serving military personnel assigned to highly confidential posts.

Media reports said the Italians had provided details about the Italian-French SAMP/T air defence system, which is due to be delivered to Ukraine this year, and about Aster missiles already sent to Kyiv. The reports also said Russian handlers had sought details about a NATO mission in Bulgaria and Avio, an Italian company that makes motors for drones and supersonic missiles.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said earlier this month that the case was only the tip of the iceberg in what he called Russia's hybrid war in Europe as it continues its offensive against Ukraine.