The Russian Foreign Ministry took a diplomatic step in retaliation for Italy's expulsion of two military attachés. The ministry announced that it had declared Vittorio Parrella, the deputy defense attaché at the Italian Embassy in Moscow, and attaché Davide D’Aprile persona non grata.
The statement said the diplomats must leave Russian territory within three days, along with their families. Russian authorities also summoned Italy's chargé d'affaires, Giovanni Scopa, to the Foreign Ministry to convey the situation.
Italy calls move 'unjustified'
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani recalled that Rome had previously expelled Russian military attachés on espionage grounds. In a statement on X, Tajani described Moscow's retaliatory decision as 'unjustified'. He said Italy's move was due to intelligence activities, while Russia's response was baseless.