A newly declassified French intelligence report has exposed the full extent of Russia’s aggressive espionage, sabotage, and political interference operations on French soil. The sixteen-page document, titled “Russian Threats and Actions Against France”, reveals a broad and increasingly hostile strategy by the Russian dictator’s regime to undermine France across military, political, scientific, and digital spheres.
According to the investigation, the Russian regime has been conducting cyberattacks, stealing sensitive technologies, interfering with energy infrastructure, and even plotting attacks in the lead-up to major international events such as the Olympic Games in Paris. The report details how Russian spies, often operating under diplomatic cover, have infiltrated France to gather intelligence and manipulate European political discourse.
One of the most alarming revelations involves Russian support for Iran’s missile programme, which French authorities believe could eventually pose a direct threat to French territory. French engineers have reported the theft of specialised defence equipment, including laser technologies, during international trips.
In 2023 and 2024, several French Ministry of Defence accounts were hacked, and a covert operation to export French semiconductors to the Russian military was uncovered. A separate Russian-linked cyberattack targeted the Coulandon hydroelectric power station in April 2024, raising concerns over the safety of France’s energy grid.
Russian digital attacks have also disrupted the French emergency communication system. On 24 February 2022, just one hour before the full invasion of Ukraine, Russian cyber operations disabled around 40,000 Viasat modems, impacting emergency response capabilities across France.
The French arms manufacturer KNDS France, which produces the CAESAR self-propelled artillery system supplied to Ukraine, was also a target. Russian hackers managed to steal classified correspondence regarding weapons shipments.
More recently, a Russian citizen was arrested in July 2024 for planning a terrorist act during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. French intelligence believes this was more of a display of Russian capabilities rather than a serious attempt to carry out mass violence, intended to intimidate and destabilise.
One of the most chilling aspects of the report is France’s warning that the Russian dictator is seriously considering the use of nuclear weapons. The Oreshnik missile strikes on Ukraine have led French intelligence to conclude that this is no longer mere rhetoric or bluff. “This is not just a communication strategy. A nuclear strike is a scenario Putin is seriously considering,” the report states.
Russia is also leading a vast disinformation campaign against France, deploying fake news, artificial intelligence-generated videos, and distorted narratives to tarnish France’s international image. French intelligence confirms that “no meeting is neutral anymore,” describing a state of constant subversion where even basic diplomatic interactions are potentially compromised.
