Italy Says It Thwarted Russian-Origin Cyberattacks Targeting Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Hours Before Opening

Italy announced it intercepted a series of cyberattacks of alleged Russian origin that targeted foreign ministry systems and Olympic-related sites shortly before the opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the attacks hit foreign ministry networks — "starting with Washington" — and also affected some venues linked to the Games, including several hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo. His office and the International Olympic Committee did not provide further operational details when asked.

Claim of Responsibility and Nature of the Attacks

A hacking collective using the name Noname057 claimed responsibility on a Telegram channel, framing the campaign as retaliation for Italy's support for Ukraine. The group described the incidents as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which overload web servers with traffic to render websites inaccessible.

"The pro-Ukrainian course of the Italian government leads to the fact that support for Ukrainian terrorists is punishable by our DDoS missiles on websites," the message read on the channel purporting to represent Noname057.

AFP and other outlets said they could not immediately verify ownership of the Telegram account, though cybersecurity analysts have flagged similar statements online that align with the group's posts. Authorities reported that access to at least one hotel website in Cortina remained blocked as of Wednesday afternoon.

Security Build-Up Across Game Sites

Italian authorities have significantly reinforced security for the Winter Games, deploying roughly 6,000 police officers and almost 2,000 military personnel across venues stretching from Milan to the Dolomites. The operation includes bomb-disposal teams, anti-terrorism units, snipers and mountain police trained to patrol on skis. The defence ministry has supplied vehicles, radars, drones and aircraft to support the security effort.

Security is especially concentrated in Milan ahead of the opening ceremony, where national and international political figures are expected to attend.

US HSI Role and Local Opposition

Reports that U.S. immigration enforcement agents would be present at the Games sparked controversy in Italy. Rome's interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, told parliament that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would not carry out street patrols in Milan. He clarified that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm often associated with transnational criminal probes, would operate in a strictly advisory and intelligence-based capacity within U.S. diplomatic facilities and would have no executive policing role on Italian soil.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala publicly voiced opposition to the presence of ICE agents, calling them "not welcome" and denouncing the agency in strong terms. U.S. officials have described HSI's role at the Games as non-operational and focused on sharing intelligence about transnational threats, including cybercrime.

Protests and Broader Concerns

Small demonstrations have already taken place over the planned U.S. security presence, and further protests are expected during the opening weekend. Pro-Palestinian groups plan to demonstrate during the Olympic flame's arrival in Milan to protest Israel's participation amid the Gaza war, while other marches and rallies are anticipated around the opening ceremony.

Separately, critics continue to raise environmental concerns about the Games, highlighting the impact of infrastructure projects, increased traffic, and the heavy energy use associated with artificial snow in mountain venues.

Reporter note: Authorities and independent outlets are continuing to investigate the cyber incidents and the claims of responsibility. Details may be updated as more information becomes available.