Italy Expels 2 Russian Embassy Employees for Spying

By Reuters July 9, 2026 The Russian Embassy in Rome. Dmitry Shuleyko (CC BY-SA 3.0) The Italian government has decided to expel two military attaches at the Russian Embassy in Italy who were allegedly involved in espionage activities, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. Earlier this week, two people were arrested on charges of passing classified information to an alleged Russian agent. Prosecutors said the main suspect was a former officer of Italy's Carabinieri police force. Five other individuals are also under investigation. Tajani said on X that the two Russian officials must leave Rome within three days. He said Moscow continued to employ "hybrid tools" against Italy and the West, describing this as "serious and unacceptable interference" that threatens national security. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would respond to Italy's expulsion of the two officials. Read more about: Italy , Foreign Ministry , 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 Italy Arrests 2 Over Alleged Spying for Russia 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... 1 Min read Moscow Demands Release of Russian Woman Accused of Spying in Denmark Russia's Foreign Ministry said Copenhagen had provided "no evidence" of the woman's "unlawful activity." 1 Min read 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. Russians Vote to Close U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg in Twitter Poll The vote came after the U.S. ruled to close Russia’s consulate in Seattle over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain.