The present paper provides scholars with a critical assessment of research into Russian diachronic linguistics and Russian philology carried out by Italian Slavicists over the last thirty years. This article first examines how Italian scholars have understood and engaged with fundamental issues in the history of the Russian language, which have been at the centre of discussion on an international level. It then explores the advances made in Italian research on historical grammar and emphasises the peculiarity of the approach to textual criticism developed by Italian scholars and its relevance to Russian philology. Finally, the paper discusses major Italian contributions regarding specific issues in Russian diachronic linguistics and philology, which reveal innovative solutions to long-standing problems. While further exploration is necessary in several areas, in qualitative terms the hitherto accomplished research cannot but be positively assessed.