Italy Arrests 2 Over Alleged Spying for Russia

By Reuters July 7, 2026 Nick Fewings / unsplash Italy has arrested two people, including a former member of its intelligence services, for allegedly passing classified information to a Russian agent, the Rome prosecutor's office said on Tuesday. Prosecutors said the main suspect, whom they did not name, was a 59-year-old former officer in the Carabinieri military police who previously worked in the intelligence community. The accusations include the transfer of protected information, as well as unauthorized access to IT and telecoms services. Five other people are under investigation as part of a probe launched in May 2025. Prosecutors claim the main suspect accepted money to pass information to a Russian agent. The suspect reportedly obtained that information from sources that included four active-duty members of the Italian military. The Russian operative allegedly involved is protected by diplomatic immunity in Italy. There was no immediate comment from the Russian Embassy in Rome. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the investigation helped expose Russia's true stance toward Italy, where the government has provided military and civilian aid to Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. "This hybrid war is the tip of a gigantic iceberg, comprising external enemies and internal traitors who are prepared to sell out their nation for money, power or personal gain," Crosetto wrote on X. In 2021, Italian navy captain Walter Biot was caught handing documents to a Russian embassy employee in a Rome car park and was later sentenced to almost 30 years in prison. Read more about: Italy , Espionage Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more opinion Eleonora Tafuro The Latest Spy Scandal Won't Sour Moscow-Rome Relations, But Italian Public Opinion Is Shifting The special relationship between Russia and Italy is showing signs of strain. Italy Expels Russians After Spies 'Caught Red-Handed' The Italian press called the events the "most serious" incident with Russia since the end of the Cold War. Italy and Russia Spar Over Alleged Coronavirus Spies The unusual exchange came after an Italian newspaper story about the purportedly nefarious nature of Russia's aid mission. Italy Arrests Russian Executive in U.S. Spying Case He is accused of embezzling intellectual property and General Electric documents for a Russian aircraft engine program.