France's Interior Ministry warns of real and documented threat from Russia
Photo: French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez (Getty Images)
Europe is facing a real and documented hybrid threat from Russia. France has identified the incidents that are causing the greatest concern, according to a statement by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on BFMTV.
Nuñez said that the French authorities are not exaggerating the scale of the Russian threat.
"No, this is not a PR stunt," the French interior minister stressed.
According to Nuñez, most European intelligence services acknowledge the existence of a hybrid threat from Russia.
Drones and sabotage
As an example, the French minister cited incidents involving drones flying near European airports. According to him, such cases have been recorded in recent months, including over the past weekend.
Nuñez also referred to acts of sabotage across Europe.
"Acts of sabotage are not a fabrication," he said.
At the same time, the minister stressed that hybrid attacks are not limited to physical incidents. He also identified cyberattacks as a major threat.
According to Nuñez, France has already experienced cyberattacks, although there have so far been no serious acts of sabotage or incidents involving drones flying over the country.
"There have been no serious acts of sabotage in France, but we do experience cyberattacks," the interior minister added. "What is happening across Europe is also a cause for concern for us."
Macron orders protection of critical infrastructure
Nuñez's remarks came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron met with the leaders of the country's major political parties.
During the meeting, the French president spoke about the risks of an escalation in Russia's hybrid warfare against France and called for preparations for possible attacks.
Macron instructed the government to develop a plan to protect critical infrastructure, as well as the most vulnerable defense industry facilities and technological assets, from drone attacks and cyberattacks.
Russia steps up hybrid activity in Europe
European countries have previously warned about possible hybrid actions by Russia. Poland has reported an increase in Russian intelligence activity targeting infrastructure that supports Ukraine. Potential targets reportedly include railways, bridges, and border crossings.
Meanwhile, Lithuania said it possesses the same intelligence regarding possible Russian provocations as its allies. Officials in Vilnius, in particular, warned about the possibility of "false flag" operations.
Amid these concerns, Lithuania has also prepared an evacuation plan for residents of Vilnius in the event of a military threat or a major crisis. One of the possible evacuation routes would lead to Poland.
In addition, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned about vulnerabilities in Europe's air defense systems. According to him, if Russia were to launch several missiles at NATO territory, it could pose a serious challenge for many countries.
