Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russian hybrid attacks against Europe and France have intensified, citing recent strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border and a drone attack on Leipzig airport. The French president ordered a plan to protect critical infrastructure and defence industry sites, saying the intent behind the attacks is to intimidate Europe and break its support for Ukraine.
At a news conference at the Elysee Palace, Macron said he had instructed a plan to shield French critical infrastructure and defence industry sites from drone and cyberattacks. He said France had been targeted by Russian hybrid attacks in the past few weeks which would not be left “without a response”.
Recent Incidents
The warning comes after a string of incidents that have raised alarm across Europe. The sequence of events, in rough order:
- A Russian drone hit a passenger train near the Ukraine-Poland border last Sunday, shortly after Boris Johnson and top European security officials passed through. Ukraine said all passengers were evacuated just minutes before the strike at Yahodyn.
- Last month, a drone attack hit Leipzig airport, blamed on Russia.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told Polish MPs on Thursday there was a “real risk” of drone and missile strikes on Nato countries, with Moscow claiming they were “accidental.”
Tusk had previously suggested Russia was planning such strikes against Poland and other Nato countries. The warning now appears to have landed closer to home.
Lavrov’s Warning
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded to the mounting concern. He warned European nations against sending troops to Ukraine, which would be seen by Russia as a declaration of war.
“If Europe attacks Russia, it will be a completely different war, and it will be very short,” Lavrov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Russia does not plan to attack Europe, but Lavrov’s warning adds to the tension. The two statements do not contradict each other; Putin denies attacking, while Lavrov warns against provocation.
The Strategic Response
Macron announced that France would call a G7 meeting on energy issues. The meeting will also raise the question of gas stocks with the European Commission.
“In the coming weeks, we will have a G7 meeting devoted to these energy issues, both to strengthen cooperation and to avoid unnecessary tensions between the G7 countries and our main partners,” Macron said.
He also announced that the government had been tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and the “most sensitive” defence industry and technology sites against drone and cyberattacks.
The move signals a broader co-ordination effort among Western powers.
The Regional Context
France is not the only country worried. A growing number of European leaders warn Russia may be testing its commitment to supporting Ukraine. The Yahodyn strike, coming as Johnson travelled through the region, underscores the regional tension.
The pattern of attacks has alarmed European leaders who fear Russia may be preparing strikes to test their commitment to Ukraine. The warning carries weight regardless of political alignment.
The attacks continue. The response from Paris is measured but firm: protection, preparation and co-operation with allies.
Macron’s plan to defend critical infrastructure is a sensible first step. The G7 meeting on energy is a practical response to a shared threat. Neither solves the underlying problem, but both buy time.
Time, in this case, is the commodity Europe needs most.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs Macron’s plan to shield French critical infrastructure and defence industry sites from drone and cyberattacks, and is against any escalation that could lead to a broader military confrontation. The plan targets specific vulnerabilities without inviting a wider conflict, and the G7 meeting on energy stocks offers a practical forum for allied coordination.
The attacks cited by Macron — the drone strike near the Ukraine-Poland border and the Leipzig airport attack — are real threats to European stability. Protecting infrastructure is a measured response, not a provocation. Lavrov’s warning about a “completely different war” if Europe sends troops to Ukraine underscores the danger of miscalculation on both sides.
The reader should watch for signs that the protection measures are effective and that the G7 meeting produces tangible agreements rather than rhetoric. The paper supports the plan’s focus on infrastructure and technology sites, and hopes it remains narrowly targeted rather than broadening into a military response.
Source material: “Russian hybrid attacks against Europe intensifying, says Macron,” the BBC.
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