A Russian nationalat the center of a military espionage investigation allegedly monitored an Italian Navy exercise involving an underwater drone off La Spezia in June 2025
The episode emerged from an investigation by Rome prosecutors that last week led to the house arrest of two former members of Italy’s domestic intelligence agency, AISI
- One of them, who served in the agency until 2012, is accused of illegally accessing the computer systems of Italy’s intelligence and security agencies to obtain secret or otherwise classified information.
- Last week, Rome also ordered two Russian military attachés to leave the country within three days, framing the case as part of Moscow’s hybrid pressure against Italy and the West.
Why it matters:La Spezia is one of Italy’s key hubs for naval and underwater activities. The city hosts the National Underwater Dimension Hub, a complex structure where companies and public institutions work together on underwater technologies and capabilities
- Italy has also been assigned the leadership of the Mediterranean hub of the Regional Cable Hubs initiative, underscoring the country’s growing role in the security of critical underwater infrastructure.
What happened:According to the investigation, an Italian Navy exercise involving a next-generation underwater drone was taking place in the waters off La Spezia in June last year
- During those days, the Russian national allegedly met a former Italian intelligence officer near the port, not far from the area where the exercise was underway.
- The conversation between the two men was recorded by the Carabinieri’s ROS special operations unit, according to the investigation.
- Investigators say the Russian national was interested in the ongoing naval operations. During the meeting, he allegedly referred to the exercise and to the underwater drone being used by the Italian Navy.
The investigation:The La Spezia episode is part of a broader investigation led by Rome prosecutors that resulted last week in the house arrest of two former Aisi officers
- One of the two had served in the intelligence agency until 2012. Prosecutors accuse him of illegally accessing the computer systems of Italy’s intelligence and security agencies to obtain secret or otherwise classified information.
- The material at the center of the investigation allegedly included information on operations that were meant to remain secret.
- Among them was an operation involving unofficial intelligence sources that was considered highly classified and dated back to 2016-2017.
- Investigators also reconstructed a series of other meetings between the Russian national and the former Italian intelligence officer.
Zoom in: The Rome meeting.During one meeting documented by the ROS, the Russian national allegedly discussed with the former intelligence officer the delivery of a file
- According to the investigation, the document contained information on members of the Carabinieri’s ROS unit and on a department of the Rome prosecutor’s office. The conversation was recorded by investigators.
- According to the account reported in the Italian press, the Russian national allegedly sought intelligence reports and other classified material.
- Investigators also allege that the man operated autonomously and had been based in Italy since 1990.
The broader context.The investigation comes amid wider concerns over Russian intelligence operations targeting Western infrastructure
- The U.S. National Security Agency has warned that Russia’s FSB has exploited vulnerable routers to target governments and critical infrastructure organizations, adding a cyber dimension to broader concerns over Moscow’s intelligence activities.
- The case also emerged as the European Union announced sanctions against nine people over “malicious cyber activities,” including Russian intelligence officers accused of cyber operations and activities targeting Western institutions.
The bottom line:The La Spezia episode places the investigation into alleged Russian espionage in one of Italy’s most sensitive security environments: a major Navy base and a territory that has become central to the development of underwater capabilities and the protection of subsea infrastructure
- The investigation is now focused on reconstructing what information was collected, what classified material may have been transferred and the extent of the network of contacts built in Italy.
Meloni brings Italy’s critical minerals push to NATO
