France Accuses Russia of Extensive Cyberattacks on Government, Olympics

France has publicly accused Russia's GRU military intelligence agency and its affiliated hacking group APT28 (also known as Fancy Bear) of orchestrating a sustained campaign of cyberattacks against French institutions since at least 2015. Targets included government agencies, President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign, defense firms, local governments, and organizations associated with the 2024 Paris Olympics. The French government and cybersecurity agency ANSSI allege these attacks aimed to gather strategic intelligence and destabilize French society, including interfering in elections and spreading disinformation. APT28 reportedly used tactics such as phishing, vulnerability exploitation, and brute-force attacks, often leveraging outsourced infrastructure to enhance stealth and flexibility. France condemned these activities as unacceptable for a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and pledged to work with international partners to deter and respond to Russian cyber operations. This marks the first time France has publicly attributed such a campaign directly to Russia.