France prepares new plan to counter Russian drones and cyberattacks
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron (photo: Getty Images)
France is preparing for a more serious Russian hybrid threat. President Emmanuel Macron has instructed the government to draw up a plan to protect critical infrastructure and defense facilities, according to France Télévisions.
The outlet says the Russian threat to France has intensified in recent months, including cyberattacks targeting military and government institutions and attempts to interfere in the presidential campaign using fake videos created with artificial intelligence.
On September 18, officials held an emergency meeting in a newly secured crisis facility at the Élysée Palace. The government urgently summoned all prefects, who are due to hold security and defense summits in their departments next week.
Law enforcement officials, military officers, representatives of the education system, businesses, and emergency response services will take part.
What Macron ordered
"I asked the government to prepare a plan to protect our critical infrastructure, as well as the most sensitive facilities in our defense industrial and technological base, from drones and cyberattacks," Macron said.
Which facilities could be at risk
Based on a confidential memo obtained by France Télévisions, potential targets include power plants and grids, railways, telecommunications networks and drinking water distribution systems.
According to Air Force General Patrick Dutartre, main airfields of France are already prepared for drone attacks, but all sensitive facilities linked to defense could be at risk.
Meanwhile, French intelligence services are preparing for large-scale Russian attacks, and that scenario is moving up the timeline, the outlet notes: while 2030 was previously cited, officials are now referring to fall 2027.
As previously reported, Russia is waging a large-scale hybrid war against Europe. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine examined in detail how the Kremlin uses "disposable agents" and arson attacks to carry out sabotage in EU countries and how Europe is responding.
