Italy’s foreign minister said national security agencies disrupted a series of attempted cyber intrusions traced to Russia as the country prepares to host the Winter Olympics. Antonio Tajani told reporters in Washington the attacks targeted several Foreign Ministry offices — beginning with Washington — and also struck some Olympic-related sites, including hotels in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Officials noted the attempted intrusions come after a pattern of Olympic-focused cyberattacks in recent Games, including incidents linked to Paris 2024 and Pyeongchang 2018 that analysts widely attribute to Russian actors. Observers point to Moscow’s sporting bans over doping and its exclusion tied to the war in Ukraine as possible motives. British intelligence earlier reported that Russian hackers had even considered operations targeting Tokyo in 2021.
Russia is barred from competing under its flag this year because of the invasion of Ukraine, though 13 Russian and seven Belarusian athletes will take part as neutrals among roughly 3,500 competitors. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will stage the Games from February 6 to 22.
Authorities expect about two million visitors for the event, including approximately 60,000 attendees at the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, which is expected to be attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. A wide range of protests are planned across the host cities, addressing concerns from environmental damage tied to the Olympic model to opposition over Israel’s participation amid the situation in Gaza.
For the opening period, Milan’s central area will be designated a tightly controlled “red zone,” closed to both pedestrians and vehicles. Security has been heightened at border crossings and major rail hubs; K-9 teams and bomb squads are conducting regular sweeps at venues, and snipers have been deployed throughout the red-zone network.
A contingent of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has been assigned to the event, prompting criticism from some Italian citizens and politicians uncomfortable with a U.S. domestic agency operating on Italian streets. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the Homeland Security Investigations personnel will act only in an advisory capacity and insisted ICE will not perform operational policing on Italian territory. He noted Italy accepted similar support during Paris 2024 and described local anger as unfounded.
On the ground, Italian authorities have mobilized roughly 6,000 police officers and 2,000 military personnel across the corridor from Milan to the Dolomites. The Defense Ministry is providing logistical assets — trucks, aircraft, drones and radar — while specialist teams including bomb technicians, anti-terror units, snipers and ski police are stationed at venues.
Overall security coordination will run around the clock from the Rome-based International Olympic Operations Room (SOIO), which will liaise with forces in northern cities such as Bolzano, Milan, Sondrio, Trento, Venice and Verona. Officers from foreign police services and representatives from Interpol and Europol will be on hand to support information-sharing and any incidents that require international cooperation.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez