Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said his personal data has been published on the dark web by what he described as pro-Russian hackers, and that the move is linked to the Italian government's support for Ukraine.

Tajani, who is also Italy's deputy prime minister, said on Saturday that cybercriminals had been circulating his personal data for days and were seeking further information about him and his family. He said the hackers were willing to pay for more details. "My response is very simple: I will not be intimidated in any way," he said in a post on X.

A list of 18 names

Screenshots seen by Reuters showed Tajani's picture among a list of 18 "citizens hostile to the Russian Federation", which also included cybersecurity experts. The material was found in a section of the dark web accessible through the Tor network, according to a person close to the minister.

The news that a list of 18 European public figures had been targeted was first reported on Saturday morning by the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. The list is attributed to the NoName hacking group, which has been linked to Russian military intelligence, although Moscow has not commented on this incident and has consistently denied any involvement in cyberattacks abroad.

Meloni voices support

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her support for Tajani and said the sale of confidential information relating to public officials was "a matter of serious concern". Tajani said Italy's position on Ukraine was the political reason he had been targeted.

He pointed to a cyber directorate he set up at the ministry on 1 January to protect it from cyberattacks, and said the ministry was working closely with allies to counter the threats. Tajani did not specify what kind of personal information had been shared, but suggested the threat was continuing.

**Sources:** [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/italy-foreign-minister-says-he-has-been-targeted-by-pro-russian-hackers-over-2026-11-07/) | [EuropeSays](https://www.europesays.com/3358839/)