“I was told that Europe is a citadel of rights, that everything is permitted, that’s what they said. I know from personal experience about the so-called ‘sacred property rights’. With every transaction I was bringing paperwork demonstrating my official salary, income, I did it all. I bought it, paid crazy amount of taxes. I did everything.

“And suddenly someone makes a decision that this journalist is now on the list of sanctions. And right away it affects your real estate. Wait a minute. But you told us that Europe has sacred property rights.”

He continued: “All of a sudden, now they say: ‘Are you Russian? Then we will close your bank account, if it’s in Europe. And if it’s in England, you’re allowed to keep no more than a certain amount there. Why? Because you’re Russian.”

The vandalism came a day after Rome expelled 30 Russian diplomats on national security grounds and Mario Draghi, the prime minister, said Mr Putin must be held accountable for the massacre of civilians in towns outside Kyiv.

Mr Draghi said the murder of civilians “deeply shake our souls”.

Amid growing outrage over alleged atrocities committed by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian civilians, Slovenia and Spain also expelled Russian diplomats on Tuesday.