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Italy Expels Two Russian Military Attaches After Police Break Up Alleged Espionage Ring
Italian police dismantled an alleged Russian GRU espionage network in Rome that sought details on air defense systems sent to Ukraine. Authorities arrested two former Italian intelligence officials and expelled the Russian attaches, including Mikhail Astakov. Defense News reported the operation relied on wiretaps, surveillance, and cash payments for classified information.
Jul 10, 4:42 AM·1m read1 source
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Italian police broke up an alleged espionage ring in Rome involving a Russian military intelligence officer and Italian informants, Defense News reported. The Italian government announced on Thursday the expulsion of two Russian military attaches at the embassy in Rome, including Mikhail Astakov.
Astakov, identified as a GRU officer and military attaché, met repeatedly with Gavino Piras, a 59-year-old former member of Italy’s secret service.
Piras was arrested on Tuesday along with a second former Italian intelligence official. Investigators said Piras used cash from Astakov to recruit five informants inside the Italian military. Court documents showed Astakov supplied lists of information requests during secret meetings and received microSD cards left in a hole in a wall.
He paid €4,000 for each package of information, investigators said. Police filmed and wiretapped one meeting in which Astakov demanded details on the Samp-T air defense system supplied to Ukraine by Italy and France and on the Michelangelo Dome system developed by Italy’s Leonardo, scheduled for testing in Ukraine in November.
Additional requests delivered in September 2025 sought information on Italy’s plans to buy Storm Shadow missiles, rearmament plans for Italy, the EU and NATO, EU defense priorities, and assistance to Ukraine for long-range missiles.
Astakov also asked about a Leonardo sub-sea drone under test in La Spezia and, in April 2025, about Avio, the Italian firm that partnered with the U.S. Army on missile rocket motors. Piras told Astakov that British intelligence, not Italian, was assisting Ukraine with long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities and that Italian experts were studying the Russian T-90 tank.
