Rome Prosecutors Uncover GRU Spy Ring Targeting Ukraine’s Air Defense Systems

Spy Network Exposed in Italy

According to Главком: Italian authorities in Rome have dismantled a spy network operating on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. The group was collecting sensitive information on Western air defense systems destined for Ukraine. The primary suspect is 59-year-old Gavino Piras, a former Italian intelligence officer. His handler is believed to be Mikhail Astakov, a military attaché in Rome who also serves as a GRU officer.

Astakov reportedly gave Piras lists of intelligence requests and received microSD cards containing the gathered data through a hole in a wall. For each batch of information, Astakov paid Piras roughly 4,000 euros (about $4,600) in cash. Piras used these funds to recruit informants from within the Italian military. Investigations are ongoing into five additional suspected informants.

Collected Intelligence and Italy’s Response

The information Piras passed along included details on:

• the European Samp-T air defense system,
• the MBDA CAMM-ER surface-to-air missile system,
• and Italy’s plans to acquire Storm Shadow missiles.

Additionally, Piras claimed that British intelligence has been assisting Ukraine in launching long-range strikes against Russian oil facilities. He also noted that Italian experts have been examining a captured Russian T-90 tank.

In April 2025, his handler requested intelligence on Avio, an Italian company that manufactures rocket engines. The Italian government responded swiftly by expelling two Russian military attachés from its embassy in Rome, including Astakov. Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, commented:

'Moscow continues to use hybrid warfare to attack the West and Italy. This is a serious and unacceptable interference in Italian institutions and national security.' – Antonio Tajani

Separately, in Berlin, German prosecutors detained a Kazakh national who was transmitting data to Russia about military aid to Ukraine. These incidents underscore the growing threat of espionage across Europe, raising alarm among nations supporting Ukraine.

The exposure of this spy ring in Italy highlights an escalation in Russian intelligence operations within European countries that back Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. The actions of the Italian prosecutor’s office demonstrate a firm commitment to safeguarding national security and countering foreign intelligence threats. This case may also prompt other EU nations to tighten security measures and intensify investigations within their own jurisdictions, given the broader context of hybrid warfare and espionage activities.

In light of these developments, it is important to consider the broader implications of espionage activities on Italy's national security. Recently, two Russian military attachés were expelled from Italy due to similar allegations of spying. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by European nations in countering foreign intelligence operations. For further details on the expulsion and its context, read more about it here.