Russia’s embassy in Italy used the relative lull of the Christmas holiday to denounce what it described as a “disturbing episode of harassment” that took place on December 22 at the University of Naples Federico II, during a conference titled “Russophilia, Russophobia, Truth”, organised by the local branch of Italy’s National Partisan Association (ANPI).
What happened: During the event, a group of pro-Ukrainian students and activists staged a peaceful protest inside and outside the lecture hall, raising critical questions to the speakers about the war in Ukraine and their relations with Moscow.
- There were no reports of physical violence, but moments of verbal tension were documented in videos circulating on social media.
- The Russian embassy later politicised the episode as evidence of a climate of repression of dissent in Italy.
What Russia says: According to the Russian account:
- A “group of Italian public figures” was targeted by “Ukrainian nationalists, allegedly supported by Italian activists;
- The incident is presented as proof of a growing “Ukrainisation” of Italian politics and public life.
- This version of events was amplified by Russia’s state-owned news agency Tass.
Who was there: The conference featured two well-known Italian public figures critical of Western policy toward Russia:
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- Angelo d’Orsi, historian and university professor;
- Alessandro Di Battista, a former member of parliament for the Five Star Movement.
- According to Russian Tass, both were subjected to insults and organised protests.
- Videos shared online show moments of tension as well as attendees attempting to question the speakers about the war in Ukraine.
Italy’s response: The political reaction in Italy was swift and harsh, despite the public holiday.
- Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, described the Russian embassy as representing a “fascist, imperialist and murderous regime, accusing it of instrumentalising a peaceful protest.
- Matteo Hallissey, president of +Europa and the Radicali, rejected the narrative of “harassment,” framing the flash mob as a peaceful initiative by students, members of the Ukrainian community, and political activists.
- Hallissey said he had attempted to ask d’Orsi a question about his recent presence in Moscow and turned the accusation back on Russia: rather than repression, he argued, what is emerging in Italy is irritation from those unwilling to answer uncomfortable questions.
The Russian frame: In a Facebook post, the Russian embassy used highly ideological language:
- Accusing Italy of importing from Ukraine “cruelty, radicalism, intolerance and repression of dissent”;
- Referring to a “neo-Nazi and terrorist regime in Kyiv”;
- Attributing direct responsibility to Italian authorities for tolerating such behaviour.
- In Tass’s reporting, the Naples event is portrayed as a “real ambush”, embedded in a broader Western campaign of Russophobia.
The bigger picture: The episode fits into a consolidated Russian communication strategy aimed at delegitimising Western public debate by portraying protests as repression of dissent.
- Italy, one of Kyiv’s key supporters, is increasingly becoming a direct target of Russian verbal and narrative attacks.
- Universities, associations and civic spaces are emerging as sensitive new arenas in the information competition between Russia and European countries.
The bottom line: For Moscow, even a student protest becomes evidence of Italy’s alleged “Ukrainian drift”. For Rome, it is yet another sign of political and communicative pressure that goes well beyond a local incident.
