Italian Foreign Minister: Pro-Russian Hackers Published My Data on the Dark Web

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that his personal data had been published on the "Dark Web" by individuals he described as "pro-Russian cyber infiltrators," noting that this targeting is linked to the Italian government's support for Ukraine.

Tajani, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, added in a post on the "X" platform that "supporting the freedom and independence of a sovereign state transparently" made him a target of the attack, pointing out that the cyber infiltrators are seeking more information about him and his family and are prepared to pay money for it.

He mentioned that the attacks also came in response to what he described as the Foreign Ministry's efforts to enhance cybersecurity.

For her part, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, considered one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine among Western leaders, expressed her support for Tajani, saying that selling secret information concerning government officials is "a matter of great concern."

Russia denies involvement in cyberattacks
Moscow has not commented on the incident, and Russia consistently denies any involvement in cyberattacks or hacking operations abroad.

Screenshots reviewed by Reuters showed Tajani's image within a list of 18 "citizens hostile to the Russian Federation," which also included cybersecurity experts.

A source close to the minister told Reuters that these materials were found in a section of the "Dark Web" accessible via the "Tor" network, as part of monitoring activities carried out by cybersecurity authorities, indicating that further investigations are ongoing.

In a letter addressed to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Tajani urged G7 countries to include the topic of "hybrid warfare" and recent cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure in Europe on the agenda of the foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for next week, aiming to reach a coordinated response.