Italy said it has successfully repelled several cyberattacks targeting facilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as infrastructure linked to the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympic Games. The attempts were detected and neutralized by national cybersecurity systems, according to Italian authorities. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the attacks were aimed at websites associated with the Winter Olympics and hotels in the Cortina d’Ampezzo area. Italian diplomatic missions abroad were also affected, including embassies.

According to Tajani, the cyber operations were believed to be of Russian origin, though he did not provide further technical details regarding the nature of the attacks or the groups behind them. His remarks were made on the sidelines of an official visit to Washington. Italian officials emphasized that the attacks were contained without causing significant damage or service disruptions. The government highlighted the effectiveness of existing cybersecurity protocols in protecting sensitive infrastructure.

Italy has been strengthening its preparedness against digital threats in anticipation of the Winter Olympics, which are considered a high-risk event from a cybersecurity perspective due to their global visibility. A specialized team is working closely with Olympic organizers to continuously monitor networks, detect potential threats, and respond swiftly to any attempted digital intrusion.

These efforts include coordination with national and international security agencies. Italian authorities have identified so-called “hacktivists” as a key concern. These are individuals or groups driven by political motivations who carry out cyberattacks for propaganda or disruptive purposes. Transport, communications, and hospitality infrastructure are among the most sensitive sectors, as any disruption during the Games would attract global attention and potentially affect the event’s operations.

The Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics are expected to reach an audience of around three billion viewers worldwide, increasing international scrutiny over organizational and security measures. The Italian government reiterated its commitment to further strengthening digital defenses in the months leading up to the Games, aiming to ensure the smooth running of the event and protect institutions, visitors, and critical systems from cyber threats.