Italy announced Monday that Russia expelled 'without justification' a military attaché in its mission and a 'collaborator' with him, ten days after Rome expelled two members of the Russian intelligence services working on its territory under a diplomatic cover.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X platform: 'It is a blatant retaliatory act following Italy's expulsion of two Russian military attachés, who were caught red-handed engaging in espionage activities that harm our national security.' Russia did not immediately comment on this expulsion.

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Italy had announced on July 9 the expulsion of two members of the Russian intelligence services who were working on its territory under a diplomatic cover, denouncing 'a serious and unacceptable interference,' two days after the arrest of two former Italian intelligence members on charges of cooperating with Moscow.

Aster French missiles

The Russian Foreign Ministry, according to what was reported by the RIA Novosti agency, quickly threatened an 'appropriate response.' According to the Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Il Messaggero, at least one of the two Russian members gathered, for money, information related to the Franco-Italian air defense system 'SAMP/T' which Ukraine is supposed to receive this year for testing, and the Franco-Italian 'Aster' missiles that have already been delivered to Kyiv. The member was also interested in the NATO mission in Bulgaria, and the Italian company 'Avio' which produces engines for drones and hypersonic missiles.