France is set to summon the Russian ambassador in the coming days as part of a firm response to a broad cyber attack campaign targeting European nations, including France itself. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the move during an interview with BFMTV/RMC on Monday, signaling a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions.
Barrot confirmed that France intends to implement sanctions against four entities and nine individuals identified as being responsible for the operation. According to the minister, the campaign was orchestrated by the FSB, the Russian security service. These cyber activities have targeted a wide range of sectors, including government ministries, private companies, and essential service operators.
The primary objectives of these attacks were identified as either the theft of sensitive information or the sabotage of critical infrastructure. Barrot pointed to incidents such as the disruption of rail infrastructure in Poland as a clear example of the campaign's destructive intent, though he declined to provide further specifics regarding the ongoing investigation.
Despite the reach of the operations, the minister noted that French authorities have successfully detected the intrusions. He added that the country has significantly bolstered its defensive capabilities to protect against such cyber threats moving forward.
