The Russian Hybrid Threat in Italy: Political Influence, Propaganda and Disinformation

Santrauka

In recent years, Italy has emerged as one of the European Union’s most exposed fronts to Russian influence operations. Following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Italian intelligence reports have identified the Russian Federation as the main actor behind the so-called hybrid threat, carried out through political, economic, informational, diplomatic, and cyber instruments. This study examines the Russian hybrid threat in Italy, structured around three main lines of action: political influence, propaganda, and digital operations. The analysis reconstructs the strategic framework and objectives of these operations, and examines the main channels and tactics employed. The aim is to provide an integrated overview to better understand how the Russian hybrid threat operates in a specific national context, and which tools can strengthen democratic resilience and collective security.