Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reported this Saturday (7) that pro-Russian hackers released his personal data on the dark web and are offering money for additional information about him and his family. The deputy prime minister said he will not be intimidated and attributed the episode to the Italian government’s position in support of Ukraine.
According to information reported by the Italian press, the hacker group NoName057(16) is believed to be behind the operation. Other targets include Rome prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi and Italian Postal Police chief Ivano Gabrielli.
In a post on the social media platform X, Tajani said his data have been circulating for several days in clandestine corners of the internet.
The minister said he will not be intimidated and will continue working to protect Italian institutions and expand cooperation with allied countries.
According to the ANSA news agency, since Oct. 26 the group has included 18 people on a list of targets considered hostile to the Russian Federation, offering payment for personal information.
Tajani links attack to support for Ukraine
The minister said Italy’s position on the war in Ukraine is directly related to the threats.
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According to Tajani, the Italian government’s position on Ukraine was the political reason he became a target.
He also linked the episode to measures adopted by the Foreign Ministry to strengthen digital security.
According to the minister, a cybersecurity directorate began operating on Jan. 1, 2026, with the mission of protecting the ministry’s systems from cyberattacks and expanding international cooperation.
Meloni condemns data exposure
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with Tajani and described the disclosure of and offers for confidential information about public officials as a cause for great concern.
In a statement, Meloni called for a firm response to the actions of groups seeking to intimidate representatives of Italian institutions.
The prime minister also criticized the circulation of manipulated images of Tajani on social media, referring to a post by Democratic Party President Stefano Bonaccini.
Bonaccini had shared a montage showing the minister wearing a red cap associated with the MAGA political movement linked to U.S. President Donald Trump. After criticism, he removed the post and said it was an ironic image.
Investigation involves Italian authorities
According to the newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, as cited by the Italian press, the Rome Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case.
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Among the names included on the NoName057(16) group’s list are authorities who took part in investigations against the collective itself.
Lo Voi and Gabrielli were involved in the international Operation Eastwood, carried out in July 2025 under the coordination of Europol and Eurojust. The operation resulted in more than 100 servers being taken offline, two arrests and seven arrest warrants, according to ANSA.
The connection between these investigators and the previous operation is one of the elements that helps explain the choice of targets.
So far, insufficient details have been released to determine the extent of the personal data exposed. There is also no public confirmation that the Russian government directly participated in the operation.
The episode comes amid growing European concerns about cyberthreats and intimidation actions associated with the war in Ukraine.
