The threat of Russian hybrid warfare against Europe is “real and documented” by the majority of European intelligence services, including France’s, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on BFMTV.
Downplaying that threat would be irresponsible, he said. Sabotage and drone incidents across Europe are becoming systematic. Nuñez cited an attempted attack involving an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig airport in August and repeated sightings of unidentified UAVs over European airports, including over the past weekend.
He stressed that Russia’s hybrid campaign is aimed at infrastructure networks and the defense-industrial base of countries supporting Ukraine. That is why Paris is preparing and rolling out a plan to protect critical sites and the most sensitive facilities of France’s defense industry. France has so far recorded neither major sabotage nor overflights by unidentified drones, the minister said, though cyberattacks have already taken place.
The plan includes mapping sites that require enhanced security. The move follows President Emmanuel Macron’s instruction to the government to prepare measures against drone and cyberattacks. Macron has previously said the nature of Russian aggression in Europe is changing and that no one is safe.
