Russian hybrid attacks against Europe intensifying, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his government will launch a dedicated plan to shield France’s critical infrastructure and defence‑industry sites from an escalating wave of Russian hybrid attacks. Speaking at the Élysée after a meeting with party leaders, Macron cited recent incidents such as the drone strike on Leipzig airport in Germany, a Russian‑linked drone that hit a passenger train near the Ukraine‑Poland border, and a series of suspicious fires at defence facilities from Italy to Estonia. He warned that the intent behind these non‑military tactics—cyber‑intrusions, sabotage and misinformation—is to intimidate European states and undermine their support for Ukraine, a strategy he said would ultimately backfire.

The French leader linked the surge in hybrid threats to a broader pattern of Russian pressure on NATO allies, noting statements from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk about planned drone and missile strikes on countries backing Kyiv. Moscow, while publicly denying any intention to attack Europe, has warned that the deployment of European troops to Ukraine would be treated as a declaration of war, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has threatened “necessary counter‑measures” against nations like the United Kingdom that supply weapons to Kyiv. These warnings accompany concrete incidents, including the train attack that occurred moments after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior European security officials passed through the same line, underscoring the tangible risk to civilian and military targets across the continent.

Macron said the response will involve heightened protection of “the most sensitive” defence and energy sites, with France set to convene a G7 summit focused on energy security and the possible release of strategic gas reserves. He urged domestic political candidates not to exploit public anxiety over fuel price inflation, attributing it to global market forces, while also confronting the hard‑right National Rally’s rise in the polls ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The initiative signals a coordinated European effort to counter hybrid warfare and safeguard critical assets amid growing geopolitical tension.

⚡ Effects Interpreter