France accuses Russia of cyberattacks aimed at destabilization

France officially accuses Russia of carrying out cyberattacks on the country's facilities to destabilize it. Dozens of French facilities have been attacked since 2021.

The French Foreign Ministry has made the accusations explicitly against the Russian military intelligence service GRU. Since 2021, the GRU has attacked dozens of institutions such as ministries, authorities, civilian companies and sports organizations involved in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to destabilize France. The attacks were carried out by the GRU cyber group APT28 from Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia. The accusations made by Western nations against Russia are not new, but this is the first time that Paris has made accusations against Russia based on its intelligence findings. A document from the French CERT provides further details on observed attacks by APT28.

First attacks in 2015

In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry explained that the APT28 attacks date back as far as 2015, when the TV channel TV5 Monde went offline due to a cyberattack. At the time, suspected members of the Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility. According to the French findings, however, APT28 was behind the attacks. They also attempted to destabilize the 2017 election process.

Russia also used APT28 to disrupt infrastructure as part of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Numerous European partners have also been targeted by the cyber group. The EU responded with sanctions against individuals and organizations responsible for the group's attacks.

“These destabilizing activities are unacceptable and unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. They are also contrary to the UN norms for responsible state behavior in cyberspace, to which Russia is a signatory,” clarified the French Foreign Ministry. France is determined to work with its partners to use all available means to anticipate Russia's malicious behavior on the Internet, to act as a deterrent and “to respond if necessary”.

(dmk)