The French government is investigating a senior military officer over a “security breach”, the defence minister has said, following a report the person was suspected of spying for Russia.

“What I can confirm is that a senior officer is facing legal proceedings for a security breach,” Florence Parly said. She gave no further details.

According to reports, the officer was a lieutenant-colonel stationed with Nato in Italy and had been placed under investigation on suspicion of spying for Russia.

He is suspected of having supplied sensitive documents to Russian intelligence.

The man was arrested by the French intelligence agency DGSI as he was preparing to leave for Italy at the end of his holidays in France, and was being held at a prison in Paris, radio station Europe 1 said.