From the Tower of Accounts to Mattarella: Russian spokeswoman Zakharova's provocations

Not a joke or a provocation. That of Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, who linked the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome, when a worker had not yet been recovered from the rubble, who died in the evening, to the collapse of the Italian economy over funding for Ukraine, is a concrete thought.

This was also reiterated by the ambassador to Italy Alexey Paramonov, summoned by the Farnesina, to whom 'a formal reprimand was addressed'. Zakharova's words, which were also reiterated a few hours before the meeting, 'were challenged' by the Italian Foreign Ministry. 'All the aggressive statements from Russia,' reads a note, 'only reinforce the idea of the Italian people defending those under attack in an illegal and unjustified aggression, in violation of international law'. A summons that, instead, for the Kremlin, "served as a reminder once again that sponsoring the terrorist regime in Kiev is a crime and a sin".

Irrelevant sentences according to Defence Minister Guido Crosetto: 'I never read what this lady says,' he told Repubblica. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been several rifts between Zakharova - and the Kremlin in general - and Italy. Many in 2025. The latest, when, last August, the Italian diplomat in Moscow, Giovanni Scopa, was summoned for 'the persistent anti-Russian campaign that goes on in the Italian media'.

In July, the launch of a list of 'Russophobes'. Present, in addition to Tajani and Crosetto, was also the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. "An unacceptable provocation", replied Premier Giorgia Meloni, "another propaganda operation aimed at diverting attention from the serious responsibilities of Moscow".

Precisely against the head of state, Zakharova's harshest words came from her comparison - in February - between the Russian attitude in Ukraine and that of the German Third Reich.