Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, has accused Russia of preparing to interfere in next year’s general election as well as other European democratic processes, warning that Moscow aims to sway popular opinion through covert actions. Speaking amid rising tensions over the war in Ukraine, Tajani said the Italian government is taking proactive measures to counter what he described as attempts to undermine free elections.

“I’m convinced this will happen, so we have to act now,” Tajani remarked, highlighting the urgency of defending electoral integrity. He revealed that the Italian foreign ministry has established a 24-hour cyber-defence operation to protect government facilities, including Italian embassies, from cyberattacks suspected to originate from Russian hackers.

The election in Italy is expected to center heavily on the country’s stance toward Russia and Ukraine. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, seeking a second term, has maintained strong support for Ukraine and its defense against Russian aggression. However, she faces significant opposition from Roberto Vannacci, a former special forces general and Moscow-based military attaché. Vannacci calls for an end to military aid for Ukraine and the lifting of sanctions against Russia, a position gaining traction among voters across the political spectrum who favor warmer relations with Moscow.

This division is echoed within the government itself. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who opposes Meloni’s policies on Ukraine, criticized arms manufacturers and European countries that continue to supply weapons as responsible for prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, the Five Star Movement opposition characterized Tajani’s warnings as driven by “paranoia and hysteria,” questioning the credibility of the allegations.

Tajani’s concerns come amid a series of suspicious incidents targeting European defense infrastructure. Last month, a munitions factory near Rome that supplied Ukraine suffered damage from an unexplained explosion, an event some officials link to possible Russian sabotage efforts paralleling similar attacks on arms manufacturers elsewhere in Europe.

In France, official warnings have also been issued regarding Russian meddling ahead of the presidential election scheduled for next spring. President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu have pointed to ongoing intelligence operations by Russia’s GRU military agency, which they say are designed to disrupt the electoral process through cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, public disruptions, and sabotage.

These developments underscore growing concerns among European governments about coordinated attempts by Russia to influence democratic outcomes as tensions related to the Ukraine conflict persist. Italy and France represent focal points where officials are mobilizing defensive strategies to safeguard their upcoming elections from foreign interference.