ROME — Russia is reportedly preparing a new phase of its hybrid warfare campaign in Europe, shifting its focus from northern European countries to the Mediterranean, with France, Spain and Italy among the potential targets of drone attacks. But the Italian government says it has received no confirmation of the alert and is calling for calm and careful handling of information at a particularly sensitive moment for European security, threatened by Russia.
The Italian response: Defense Minister Guido Crosetto pushed back against the report, saying the alert “has not been confirmed in any way” and warning that, at an already “nervous” moment, “no one needs more fuel added to the fire.”
Why it matters: The scenario described by the Spanish newspaper would geographically expand the threat of Russian hybrid operations toward Europe’s southern flank. But in Italy, at least for now, there are no operational indications supporting the specific alert.
- According to qualified sources contacted by ANSA, the alleged U.S. alert has not reached Italy at any operational level — intelligence, diplomatic or military.
- El Mundo identifies France, Spain and Italy as potential targets and describes the possible use of drones launched from the sea and transported inside containers.
- The report comes as Danish intelligence is warning, more broadly, of a “low but increasing” risk of limited attacks against NATO countries.
Rome pushes back. The most institutional response from Italy came directly from the defense minister.
- “The alert launched this morning by a Spanish newspaper, suggesting possible attacks against Italy, Spain and France by Russian ships and drones, serves no one and has not been confirmed in any way,” Crosetto wrote. “We are already living through difficult and ‘nervous’ times, and no one needs more fuel added to the fire.”
- His position is consistent with what qualified sources told ANSA: the alleged alert has, for now, not reached any operational level in Italy, whether through intelligence, diplomatic or military channels.
Also weighing in: Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, known for his overtures toward Russia, used even stronger language against the circulation of the alert.
- “It is irresponsible to amplify reports with no basis whatsoever about military alerts or possible attacks,” Salvini said. “What we need is calm, a cool head and words of peace, not alarmism that fuels tensions and winds of war.”
The European backdrop. The two reactions show a converging public line from senior members of the Italian government: no confirmation of the specific alert and a call not to further inflame tensions. But Rome’s caution comes as other European governments point to a broader deterioration in the security environment.
- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described as “deeply concerning” an assessment by Danish intelligence that Russia will escalate hybrid attacks and that there is a “low but increasing risk” of limited attacks against NATO countries. “We will not let ourselves be intimidated, but will continue support for Ukraine, pressure on Russia, and European rearmament,” Rasmussen wrote.
- French President Emmanuel Macron summoned today to the Elysee the entire French political arc, party leaders and future candidates for the 2027 presidential elections, to talk about the skin-changing Russian threat.
- On September 16, von der Leyen launched from the podium of the State of the Union the idea of an Emergency Security Protocol: a mechanism to defend itself against external aggression, based on the NATO model of emergency consultations.
Zoom in: Drones from the sea. According to El Mundo, a potential attack could involve Gerbera drones concealed inside containers and launched from the sea.
- “They will use drones launched from the sea, hidden in containers; it is not difficult at all,” a source close to Lithuania’s Defense Ministry said.
- The Gerbera is described as roughly two meters long, with a wingspan of 2.5 meters and a weight of up to 18 kilograms. It can reach speeds of around 160 kilometers per hour and has a stated range of 600 kilometers.
- A merchant vessel could carry several of the drones and, according to the Spanish newspaper’s account, launching them would be significantly less complicated than launching Shahed or Geran drones.
What we’re watching: The key question now is whether the information attributed by El Mundo to U.S. intelligence will receive operational or official confirmation elsewhere in Europe.
- For Italy, the picture remains different for now: no alert has reached intelligence, diplomatic or military channels, and two senior members of the government have publicly pushed back against the report.
- At the same time, the Danish assessment underscores that the broader risk of an escalation in Russian hybrid operations — and of possible limited attacks against NATO countries — remains a focus of European security concerns.
