Overview
- The Carabinieri operation, which carried out arrests and searches Tuesday, detained two people including a 59-year-old former intelligence subofficer and placed five others under investigation.
- Investigators say the ex-subofficer acted as the sole intermediary for a presumed Russian agent who held diplomatic immunity in Italy.
- Authorities allege information came from six sources, four of whom are active-duty military posted in sensitive roles, and was transmitted in exchange for cash.
- The probe began in May 2025 and used phone wiretaps, technical surveillance and follow-ups that led to personal, home and computer searches and coordinated civilian and military prosecutions.
- Prosecutors continue collecting evidence to establish the full scope of leaks and to work around diplomatic immunity issues while the military cases could bring separate career and legal consequences for the service members involved.