Russia Expels Italian Military Attache in Diplomatic Retaliation

Russia has expelled Italy’s military attache and his assistant in a reciprocal diplomatic move, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced. She said the decision was taken in response to actions previously taken by the Italian government.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described Moscow’s move as an act of “revenge,” saying it followed Rome’s expulsion of two Russian diplomats and calling the Russian decision unjustified.

Zakharova rejected Tajani’s remarks, accusing the Italian foreign minister of misrepresenting the situation. She insisted that Russia’s decision was a direct response to Italy’s earlier actions and not an unfounded measure.