French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia’s hybrid threat against Europe, including France, has intensified, warning that France will not respond with silence.
Speaking at a news conference at the Élysée Palace after meeting party leaders, Macron said he had instructed officials to draw up a plan aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and defence industry and technology sites. He said France had faced Russian hybrid attacks in recent weeks and that the country would take action in response.
Hybrid warfare, or hybrid attacks, is a broad term used to describe pressure short of conventional military action. It often refers to cyberattacks, sabotage or misinformation, and can involve the use of intermediaries or proxies. Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in such activity, despite what European governments and others say is growing evidence.
Protection Plan for Key Infrastructure
Macron said the purpose of the newly ordered work was to safeguard areas that could be targeted through drones and cyberattacks, particularly facilities tied to defence work and sensitive technologies. He framed the threat as part of efforts to undermine European support for Ukraine.
“In recent weeks, the Russian hybrid threat against Europeans and against France has intensified,” Macron said. He added that the aim was to intimidate European states and weaken their efforts to back Ukraine, but argued that the consequences would be the opposite.
Drone And Missile Warnings
Macron’s remarks came as European leaders have increasingly warned that Russia may be preparing attacks designed to test their commitment to supporting Ukraine.
He cited a drone strike on Leipzig airport in Germany last month, which Germany has blamed on Russia. Macron also referred to comments by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has warned that Russia could plan drone and missile strikes against Poland and other Nato countries on the alliance’s eastern flank.
On Thursday, Tusk told Polish MPs that Moscow’s plans included strikes by drones and missiles on states supporting Ukraine. Tusk said there was a “real risk” of such attacks taking place on Nato territory, followed by a Russian claim that any strikes were “accidental”, in an attempt to split the alliance.
Last Sunday, a Russian drone hit a passenger train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister, and senior European security officials had travelled along the same route. Ukraine said passengers had been evacuated minutes before the strike near Yahodyn, which hit the train’s engine.
There have also been suspicious fires at defence facilities in countries including Italy and Estonia, with several governments blaming Russia.
Russia’s Threats and Warning to the UK
Macron’s comments were made against the background of repeated Russian statements denying any intention to attack Europe. President Vladimir Putin has said Russia does not plan to target the continent.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, however, has warned European countries against sending troops to Ukraine, saying Russia would treat that as a declaration of war. Lavrov said that if Europe attacked Russia, it would lead to “a completely different war” that he characterised as short.
On Friday, Russia reiterated its warning to the UK that any British military facilities in Ukraine used to strike Russian territory were “legitimate targets”. Russia added that it reserved the right to take “necessary counter-measures” in response to what it described as the UK’s “fiercely confrontational stance” towards Ukraine, including British supplies of drones and other weapon systems to Kyiv.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Energy Security and Election Message
Alongside the security measures, Macron said France’s government had been tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and the “most sensitive” defence industry and technology sites from drone and cyberattacks.
He said France would call a meeting of the G7 to discuss energy, including raising with the European Commission the question of gas stocks. Macron said the meeting, planned for the coming weeks, would aim to strengthen cooperation and avoid unnecessary tensions among G7 members and with major partners. He added it would also be an opportunity to consider options for releasing or unlocking strategic reserves.
Domestically, Macron urged candidates in next year’s election campaign not to exploit public unease by blaming his government, and said fuel price inflation was driven by international circumstances beyond control.
The hard-right opposition National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen is leading the polls ahead of the April-May vote to replace Macron.
Join the discussion? 
19 September 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment