The annual report of the Italian intelligence services warns that Moscow is increasing the use of disinformation and cyberattacks in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The conflict has attracted the attention of many foreign intelligence services, including those of the United States and Britain.
The report, presented at the headquarters of the Department of Security Information (DIS) in Rome, notes that the world order is under discussion due to the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which have repercussions beyond the conflict zone.
The report also highlights Russia’s “hybrid” actions against NATO countries, including its use of coercive and manipulative methods such as cyberattacks, disinformation, blackmail, and levers such as migration and energy. The report warns that Moscow will not stop interfering with the political dynamics and decision-making processes of NATO countries.
The Italian intelligence service also examines Russian strategy on the battlefield, noting that Moscow is trying to use the operational pause to recover and prepare for a long-term war. The report warns that Russia is attempting to revitalize its military production complex, which is beginning to feel the impact of Western sanctions.
The report also highlights the threat of subversive propaganda, which is increasingly being pushed online where it is easier to approach psychologically weak subjects who can be more easily manipulated. The report notes that far-right forces are attempting to penetrate youthful neighborhoods, while the web activity of neo-Nazi and supremacist groups is largely dedicated to xenophobic actions.
The report concludes that Russia is trying to destabilize the whole of Europe through agents of influence, both individuals and the message they try to convey to European audiences through the internet and the media.