Italy rejects Russia’s fake report of Italian officer’s death in Ukraine

Italy on Wednesday refuted the Russian fake report claiming an Italian lieutenant colonel had died on Ukrainian soil, calling out Russia’s disinformation as a weapon in psychological warfare.

This is reported by Reuters, Ukrinform saw.

Italy's defense ministry said Lt. Col. Claudio Castiglia died in Italy of natural causes, after the Russian embassy in South Africa shared reports that the officer had been allegedly found dead in Ukraine.

"The Italian Defense firmly denies this macabre lie published on the "X" account of the Russian Embassy in South Africa and warns the sowers of hatred against continuing to spread this horrendous fake news. Is this how psychological warfare is fought, renewing the grief of the family of Lieutenant Colonel Claudio Castiglia?" the statement says.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukrainians from various Italian cities gathered in the city of Modena for a protest rally against a propaganda event dedicated to Mariupol, organized by the Russian Embassy and the Russia - Emilia-Romagna cultural association. Prior to that, due to mass protests, the Modena City Hall had revoked the permit to hold in the city a propaganda exhibition entitled "Mariupol – Post-War Revival".