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Macron Orders Enhanced Protection Against Russian Hybrid Attacks

9:09 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered additional measures to protect critical infrastructure from Russian hybrid warfare threats.

French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered additional measures to protect critical infrastructure from Russian hybrid warfare threats, following a series of incidents that have raised alarms across Europe.

Macron said he had instructed the government to prepare a plan to safeguard France's critical infrastructure, including sensitive defense industry and technology sites, against drone and cyberattacks.

Macron cited recent incidents, including a drone attack on Leipzig airport in Germany and a Russian drone strike near the Ukraine-Poland border, as evidence of the evolving nature of Russian aggression.

European leaders have increasingly warned of the possibility of Russian hybrid attacks, which include cyberattacks, sabotage, and misinformation, aimed at destabilizing and testing the resolve of European nations supporting Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has suggested that Russia could stage drone or missile attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, attempting to portray them as accidental.

Macron also mentioned that France had been targeted by Russian hybrid attacks in recent weeks, emphasizing the need for vigilance.

Macron called for increased vigilance and warned that similar operations and attacks could target cities and other sensitive areas.

What this adds

What's confirmed

• Mr Macron said he had ordered "the government to prepare a plan to protect our critical infrastructure" and the "most sensitive" defence industry and technology sites against drone and cyberattacks.
• The French president says the threat to Europe from Russia's hybrid warfare has "intensified".
• A Russian drone hit a passenger train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after European diplomats, including former prime ministers of the UK and Sweden, had used the same line.
• "In recent weeks, the Russian hybrid threat against Europeans and against France has intensified," he said.

What's still developing

• "This will not go unanswered," Mr Macron said, without elaborating.
• The French president also vowed that Russia's attacks on French soil would not go unanswered, speaking after talks with presidential hopefuls and party leaders ahead of the April-May election.
• "In the coming weeks, we will have a G7 meeting devoted to these energy issues, both to strengthen cooperation and to avoid unnecessary tensions between the G7 countries and our main partners," Macron said.
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• Hybrid warfare or hybrid attacks are loose terms which tend to describe non-military methods, for example cyberattacks, sabotage or misinformation, designed to exert pressure and destabilise an adversary.
• These are quite often employed using proxies, but Russia always denies involvement in such attacks despite growing evidence to the contrary.
• France faces mounting fiscal pressure as the 10‑year bond yield spread over Germany widens to its highest since 201 Macron told a news conference that he had ordered his government to draw up a plan to protect critical infrastructure against drone and cyber attacks.
• France's high deficit has limited the government's ability to help offset fuel costs, which Macron said were the result of a war in the Middle East that France had neither chosen nor participated in.
• Macron said a meeting of G7 nations would take place in the coming weeks to step up cooperation among members and help secure supplies in the face of the current energy crisis. (Reporting by Makini Brice and Inti Landauro; Editing by Jan Harvey, Kevin Liffey and Nia Williams) Authoritative analysis on banking, capital markets and fintech — straight to your inbox.
• “At our request, the interior minister brought together all the regional prefects yesterday to raise the level of preparedness and vigilance regarding Russian hybrid attacks,” Macron told reporters Friday after meeting with the leaders of political parties, Anadolu Agency reported.
• European governments are stepping up preparations for possible Russian hybrid attacks as officials across the continent warn that Moscow could increasingly use drones, missiles, sabotage, and cyberattacks to test NATO countries and pressure them over their support for Ukraine.

Sources

• ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporationlink
• BBClink
• Global Banking & Finance Reviewlink
• Kyivindependentlink
• Latest news from Azerbaijanlink
• Lower Bucks Timeslink
• Newsweeklink
• The Irish Timeslink
• Türkiye Todaylink
• dailyasianage.comlink
• Al Jazeeralink
• Economictimeslink
• BBClink
• Englishlink
• Aapnewslink
• Kyivpostlink