Italy Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Russia’s Intelligence War Against Italy: Espionage, Diplomatic Retaliation, and NATO’s Technological Security

A new round of diplomatic confrontation has emerged between Italy and Russia over an espionage case. Moscow has expelled the Italian military attaché and one of his staff members, a…

July 22, 2026Italy, Russia

- Intelligence ops

Inside Russia’s Hunt for NATO GEOINT: Protecting Europe’s Space and Geospatial Intelligence

Italy has expelled two officials from the Russian Embassy on espionage charges. On July 9, 2026, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that two Russian military…

July 10, 2026GEOINT, Italy, NATO, Russia

Governance

Intelligence Assessment: Roberto Vannacci’s Electoral Challenge and Its Implications for Italy’s Strategic Stability

gainst the backdrop of Italy's upcoming parliamentary elections, small and newly established political movements could act as electoral spoilers for both major blocs—the center-right coalition led by Giorgia Meloni and…

July 8, 2026Italy, Russia

Governance Intelligence ops migration National Security

The Italian Schengen visa scandal demonstrates how corruption and informal intermediary

In Rome, former Italian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Piergabrielle Papadia was arrested on charges of organizing a corruption scheme for issuing long-term Schengen visas to Russian citizens. According to investigators, the diplomat, acting…

May 11, 2026Italy, Russia

Geoeconomics Propaganda and Disinformation

Italian Lobbyist Vittorio Torrembini Promotes Narrative on the “Inevitable Revival” of EU–Russia Economic Relations

Well-known Russian lobbyist Vittorio Torrembini stated in an interview with Russian propagandists that Western sanctions are ineffective and that a new flourishing of trade and economic relations with Russia is supposedly inevitable.…

May 7, 2026Italy

Intelligence ops National Security Warfare

Italy as a Gateway: Russian Elite Networks, Criminal Ecosystems, Intelligence and Hybrid Influence in Southern Europe

Italy remains the leading country in the Schengen Area in terms of the number of visas issued to Russian citizens (152,000 in 2025), which enabled the visa operator VMS to increase its revenue by…

April 22, 2026Italy, Russia

Geopolitics Propaganda and Disinformation Psyops Warfare

Beyond Art: The Florence Performances of Zakharova and Repin as Part of Russia’s Information Warfare Strategy

On 20–21 January 2026 in Florence (Italy), as part of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival, performances are scheduled featuring the well-known ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and her husband, violinist Vadim Repin. Both artists simultaneously serve as Russian state…

January 7, 2026art, Italy, Russia

Intelligence ops Propaganda and Disinformation

Italy: Russia’s influence campaign dismantles vast network of Kremlin agents

Russia steps up influence effort by GRU-SVR to minimize risks for Kremlin's image over war crimes in Ukraine, the same model Moscow (GRU) used to spread disinformation about the causes…

January 8, 2024GRU, Italy, Russia

Intelligence ops National Security

Transactions by Russian embassies mean intelligence is extraordinary active, require enhanced monitoring

Russian embassies in Europe have increased gray transactions on their accounts, which likely involve intelligence and meddling campaigns. Authorities in Italy are investigating a series of suspicious cash withdrawals that…

November 23, 2023Italy, Russia

National Security Terrorism

Italy facing the anarchist terrorism alarm

On the night of Monday 30 January there was an attack with a Molotov cocktail on the Town Hall 5 in Milan. Two local police cars were burned. The investigators…

February 1, 2023Italy

Italy