Russia has expelled Italy's military attaché in Moscow and one of his aides, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The move came just hours after Giovanni Scopa, Italy's chargé d'affaires in Moscow, was summoned by the Russian authorities. It is widely seen as a reciprocal response to Italy's decision earlier this month to expel two Russian military officials accused of spying against the country. The latest development further strains relations between Rome and Moscow, which have already deteriorated amid repeated verbal attacks by Russian officials on President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the expulsion in a strongly worded post on X, a decision later confirmed by Russia's Foreign Ministry. "The Russian Federation has expelled, without justification, Italy's military attaché in Moscow together with one of his aides," Tajani wrote. "This is a blatant act of retaliation for Italy's expulsion of two Russian military officials, who were caught carrying out espionage activities against our national security."