🇫🇷 Russia's secret war against France: espionage, cyberattacks, energy sabotage, and the threat of a nuclear strike.
👥 L’Express has obtained a secret document from French intelligence services. The document consists of 16 pages and is intended only for ministers, as it contains very sensitive information.
📌 What the document is about:
➡️ Espionage at the Polytechnic School.
One of the most prestigious schools in France, which trains engineers for the public and private sectors, has become a target of Moscow's espionage, particularly in the field of high-intensity lasers.
➡️ Theft of a laptop at the airport.
During a visit to Russia, a laptop of a French defense engineer was hacked and even one was stolen. This is seen as a glaring lack of awareness of risks and professionalism.
➡️ 'You are the target.'
New employees of the parliament or government hear: 'You are the target.' Moscow's officers under diplomatic cover are trying to establish contacts for information gathering. Intelligence services warn: 'No conversation is innocent,' even in a bar. Sex espionage is often used.
➡️ Hacking of military email.
In 2023–2024, several mailboxes of the Ministry of Armed Forces were hacked. Although this was not the main system, the attack raised serious concerns.
➡️ Secret procurement of microchips.
Moscow illegally obtained military-grade microchips through a French company. The operation began back in 2014, involving China, without direct collusion.
➡️ Attempt to disconnect power.
French intelligence suspects Russia of involvement in a massive blackout in Spain, Portugal, and southern France. Also, in April 2024, a hydroelectric facility, Courlandon, was hacked.
➡️ Threat to the Olympics.
In July 2024, a Muscovite was arrested in France; he planned to carry out violent actions during the opening of the Olympics. Another Muscovite with 'instructions' was detained at the airport. Intelligence believes these actions were a signal rather than an attempt at terrorism.
➡️ Attack on the Caesar manufacturer.
The company KNDS France, which produces Caesar guns, suffered an email hack, likely from the GRU. The information leak lasted several months.
➡️ Putin's 'Space War'.
On February 24, 2022, an hour before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow disabled 40,000 Viasat satellite modems, including in France. In 2024, over 200 attempts to misorient GPS data of French aircraft were recorded.
➡️ Assistance to Iran.
Moscow is aiding the development of Iranian and North Korean missile programs. Although there is no direct assistance in the nuclear sphere, support in military technologies allows Iran to increase the range of missiles, which can already reach France, in particular Corsica and Alsace.
➡️ Nuclear threat.
France is closely monitoring Moscow's 'Oreshnik' program, which may include nuclear warheads with a range of 3,000–5,500 km. Its test on November 21, 2024, on a civilian target in Ukraine is considered a troubling signal.
➡️ Disinformation disguised as HAMAS.
In July 2024, the group Storm-1516 (linked to the GRU) simulated a threat of terrorist attacks on behalf of HAMAS. In January 2025, a fake threat to set fire to Notre-Dame. In February - a fabricated video story about Brigitte Macron, a video that was viewed by millions.
➡️ Discrediting Macron.
During the 2022 elections, Moscow launched an operation to promote Macron through fake accounts, only to later expose them and accuse France itself of manipulation. In 2024, Storm-1516 presented themselves as Macron's coalition, promising 100 euros per vote with a social security number.
ℹ️ French intelligence services believe that Russia is systematically and multilayeredly attempting to destabilize France, using both conventional and hybrid methods.