Macron warns Russian hybrid attacks on Europe and France have intensified

French President Emmanuel Macron said the threat of Russian hybrid attacks against Europe and France has intensified in recent weeks. Speaking at the Elysee Palace after meeting party leaders, he said he had ordered the French government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure and the most sensitive defence industry and technology sites. He also said France would call a G7 meeting to discuss energy issues.

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Macron said France had been targeted by Russian hybrid attacks in recent weeks, although he did not provide a detailed public list of incidents. He said the aim of such pressure was to intimidate European countries and weaken support for Ukraine, adding that the response would be the opposite. He also referred to a recent drone attack on Leipzig airport in Germany, which was blamed on Russia, and to comments by Poland's prime minister about possible drone and missile strikes on Nato's eastern flank.

The warning comes as European governments continue to assess the risk of sabotage, cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid activity linked to the war in Ukraine. Macron's remarks suggest France sees the issue as part of a wider continental security challenge, not only a domestic one. His call for protection of infrastructure and defence sites also points to concern about assets that are central to national resilience and military readiness.

The planned G7 discussion on energy adds an economic dimension to the warning. Macron said the meeting would aim to strengthen cooperation and avoid unnecessary tensions between G7 countries and their main partners, while also considering options for releasing or unlocking strategic reserves. That indicates the French government is linking security concerns with energy stability at a time when European states remain sensitive to supply shocks and market pressure.

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It is not yet clear what specific measures the French government will adopt, how quickly they will be implemented, or whether they will involve new deployments, legal changes or closer coordination with private operators. Macron did not identify the recent incidents he had in mind, and no new attribution was announced in his remarks. The next developments to watch are any formal government plan, further details on the G7 energy meeting and whether other European capitals respond with similar steps.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that he had ordered measures to protect France's critical infrastructure and defence industry sites from what he described as Russian hybrid attacks. He said the threat facing France and other European countries had intensified in recent weeks. The statement came after a meeting in Paris with political party leaders to discuss recent developments in the international situation.

Macron said France had been threatened by Russian hybrid attacks in the past few weeks, but did not give further details of the incidents he was referring to. He told reporters that the broader hybrid threat, particularly from Russia, had increased for Europeans and for France. The announcement was framed as a response to a worsening security environment rather than to a single confirmed attack.

The measures are aimed at sites considered important to national resilience, including critical infrastructure and defence industry facilities. No specific locations, timelines or operational details were provided in the statement. It was also not immediately clear what form the protection plan would take or which agencies would be responsible for carrying it out.

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The comments underline the continuing concern in Europe over hybrid threats, a term used for activities that can include cyber operations, sabotage, disinformation and other forms of pressure below the threshold of open conflict. France has repeatedly described the security environment as more volatile since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and European governments have increasingly linked infrastructure protection to wider defence planning. Macron's remarks suggest that Paris sees the issue as part of a broader continental challenge rather than a purely domestic one.

The meeting with party leaders in Paris indicates that the government is seeking political backing as it responds to the threat assessment. Protecting energy, transport, communications and defence-related sites has become a priority for many European states as they try to reduce vulnerability to disruption. In France, the defence industry is also strategically important because it supports military readiness and exports, making it a sensitive target in any hybrid campaign.

What remains unclear is the scale of the measures Macron has ordered and whether they will involve new security deployments, legal changes or additional coordination with private operators. It is also not known which recent incidents prompted the warning, or whether authorities have attributed any specific activity to Moscow. The next developments to watch are any formal government announcement, details of the protection plan and whether other European capitals respond with similar steps.

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