ROME, July 12 — In the corridors of Italian intelligence, a quiet operation has yielded charges that reach to the highest levels of diplomatic immunity. Two Italian citizens now sit in a Rome prison, accused of handing state secrets to Russian handlers, while two Russian diplomats have been expelled from the country under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, declared persona non grata for activities incompatible with their status.
The arrests, part of what authorities have named Operation Iron Shield, mark the latest escalation in a quiet war of espionage that has unfolded across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Against this backdrop, Italy’s response has been methodical: the two Italian suspects face charges under Articles 256-261 of the Italian Penal Code, as well as Law No. 124 of 2007, which governs the classification of state secrets.
The maximum sentence for espionage and violation of state secrets in Italy is 15 years in prison. The suspects’ identities have not been publicly released, a standard precaution in ongoing national security cases. They are being held pending trial in a Rome prison, where they await the next phase of judicial proceedings.
The Diplomatic Dimension
The expulsion of the two Russian diplomats brings Italy’s total to 30 since the invasion of Ukraine began. In April 2022, Rome expelled 24 Russian diplomats in a coordinated action with other European capitals. A further four were expelled in March 2023.
The latest expulsions, though smaller in number, carry particular weight: they are directly tied to an active criminal investigation. The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides the legal framework for such expulsions, allowing host states to remove diplomats whose activities are deemed incompatible with their diplomatic status.
Italy has invoked this provision consistently.
The Colonel and the Extradition Question
Italian authorities have stated that they will seek the extradition of Colonel Mikhail Ostrovsky if he leaves Russian territory. The colonel, whose role in the alleged espionage ring has not been fully detailed by officials, is believed to be in Russia. The practical challenge is well understood: Russia does not typically extradite its citizens.
Italy’s espionage laws, codified in the penal code’s Articles 256-261, date to an era when the Cold War defined European security. Law No. 124 of 2007 modernised the state secrets framework, creating clearer categories of classified information and stricter penalties for unauthorised disclosure.
The current case tests both sets of statutes in a post-2022 environment. Against this backdrop, Operation Iron Shield is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern. Since the invasion of Ukraine, European security services have reported a sharp increase in suspected Russian espionage operations, targeting everything from military technology to diplomatic communications.
Italy, with its strategic location on NATO’s southern flank and its significant defence industry, has been a particular focus.
