Macron Orders Plan to Protect France From Russian Hybrid Attacks

French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the threat of Russian hybrid attacks against France and other European countries has intensified in recent weeks and ordered the government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure.

“In recent weeks, the threat, particularly the Russian hybrid threat, facing Europeans and France has intensified,” Macron told reporters after meeting in Paris with political party leaders to discuss recent international developments.

Macron said Russia’s shadow operations were becoming a growing threat across Europe. He said France’s interior minister had already met with regional prefects to increase vigilance in response to what he described as Russian hybrid attacks.

The French president said he had instructed the government to prepare a plan to protect the country’s critical infrastructure as well as the most sensitive defense industry and technology sites from drone and cyberattacks.

The measures come as France prepares for next year’s presidential election, with Macron meeting presidential hopefuls and political party leaders to discuss the international situation.

Despite what he described as growing Russian threats, Macron said France would continue supporting Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

He also warned that France would respond to what he called Russia’s shadow attacks, without providing details about what form that response could take.

“This will not go unanswered,” Macron said. He added that the purpose of the attacks was to intimidate European countries and undermine their efforts to support Ukraine.

“The intention behind it is to intimidate us and to derail the effort to support the Ukrainians. The consequence will be the opposite,” Macron said.

“We are not intimidated, because we know that what is at stake today in Ukraine is our security,” he added.

Macron is due to travel to the United Nations General Assembly next week, where international developments, including the war in Ukraine, will be among the issues discussed.