Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has revealed that he was targeted by hackers because of his support for Ukraine. He reported the incident on the social media platform X.
"For several days now, cybercriminals have been spreading my personal data on the dark web and searching for further information, effectively exposing me to new threats and intimidation. They are also targeting my family and are willing to pay for additional information about me and my loved ones," Tajani wrote.
The minister stated that he would "under no circumstances" give in to intimidation and would continue working to protect his ministry and his country. He also pledged to strengthen ties and cooperation with Italy's allies to ensure collective security.
"Our position on Ukraine is the political reason why I have been targeted: defending the freedom of a sovereign state, clearly supporting democracy and a nation's independence — these are considered dangerous by these criminal groups," Tajani said.
He added that the hackers were also responding to measures taken by Italy to strengthen cybersecurity at its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For months, European countries have faced cyberattacks, drone incidents, sabotage and even assassination threats linked to Russia.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers for the incident and expressed her "full solidarity" with Tajani.
"The sale of confidential information concerning representatives of state institutions is a matter of serious concern and must be countered with the utmost determination," Meloni said, according to the BBC.
Italy continues to provide military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
