Italian law enforcement agencies have dismantled an alleged espionage network linked to Russian intelligence services, resulting in the conviction of two local businessmen in Milan for working with Russian intelligence. The men, both in their sixties and real estate entrepreneurs, provided logistical support to Russian operatives by arranging safe apartments used for intelligence personnel and installing surveillance equipment in Milan taxis. The operation aimed at building long-term operational infrastructure for Russian intelligence activity abroad, raising European security concerns about civilian infrastructure misuse for covert intelligence in EU countries. Italy is seen by Moscow as strategically important following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to heightened scrutiny of foreign intelligence across Europe.

Italian law enforcement agencies have dismantled an alleged espionage network linked to Russian intelligence services, resulting in the conviction of two local businessmen in Milan for working with Russian intelligence. The men, both in their sixties and real estate entrepreneurs, provided logistical support to Russian operatives by arranging safe apartments used for intelligence personnel and installing surveillance equipment in Milan taxis. The operation aimed at building long-term operational infrastructure for Russian intelligence activity abroad, raising European security concerns about civilian infrastructure misuse for covert intelligence in EU countries. Italy is seen by Moscow as strategically important following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to heightened scrutiny of foreign intelligence across Europe.