Macron Orders Emergency Shield for France's Power Grid and Defense Plants as Russian 'Hybrid' Attacks Surge
The French president says drone incursions and cyberattacks tied to Moscow have intensified in recent weeks and won't go "without a response," ordering a new plan to protect critical infrastructure.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Russia is escalating a campaign of "hybrid" attacks against France and the rest of Europe, and ordered his government to draw up an emergency plan to shield critical infrastructure from drones and cyberattacks, according to ABC News.
Speaking at the Élysée Palace after meeting with leaders of France's political parties, Macron said "in recent weeks, the threat — particularly the Russian hybrid threat — facing Europeans and France has intensified." He said France had been targeted repeatedly in recent weeks and that the attacks would not go "without a response."
Drones, sabotage and cyberattacks across the continent
Macron's warning follows a string of incidents across Europe this year, including repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones and cruise missiles and the discovery of an armed drone linked to Russia near NATO and Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig Airport in Germany. Macron specifically cited drone and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure as the immediate trigger for the new directive, which covers both civilian power and communications networks and French defense-industry sites, per Business Standard.
THE THREAT FACING EUROPEANS AND FRANCE HAS INTENSIFIED — MACRON
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt made similar remarks recently, saying "we do not consider ourselves at war, but we are the daily target of hybrid warfare," reflecting a broader shift among European governments toward treating cyber and drone incidents as a coordinated Kremlin campaign rather than isolated events, according to reporting compiled by the Atlantic Council.
Macron also accused Moscow of using the tactics to intimidate European governments and erode public support for continued military aid to Ukraine, even as peace negotiations continue. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied direct involvement in specific drone and sabotage incidents blamed on Russia by European officials.
France's government is expected to detail the new infrastructure-protection measures, including expanded drone-detection systems around power plants and depots, in the coming weeks.