---
title: "Macron declares heightened alert: France prepares plan to protect infrastructure from Russian drones and cyberattacks"
description: "Macron has instructed the French government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure from Russian drones and cyberattacks. Intelligence has adjusted the timeline of the massive threat from 2030 to autumn 2027."
date: 2026-09-20T12:52:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/france-plan-to-protect-infrastructure-from-russian-drones-and-cyberattacks
tags: [france, hybrid-warfare, critical-infrastructure, cyberattacks, drones, macron, russia-europe, defense]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Macron declares heightened alert: France prepares plan to protect infrastructure from Russian drones and cyberattacks

![Macron and Putin at an official meeting as France prepares drone and cyberattack defense plan](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/20/franciya-plan-zashchity-ot-rosiyskih-dronov-i-kiberatak/franciya-plan-zashchity-ot-rosiyskih-dronov-i-kiberatak-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Macron instructed the government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure from drones and cyberattacks
- An emergency meeting with prefects and security officials was held at the Élysée Palace on September 18
- Potential targets include power plants, railways, telecom, and water supply
- Intelligence adjusted the horizon of the massive threat from 2030 to autumn 2027

France is shifting into a mode of enhanced protection against the Russian hybrid threat. President Emmanuel Macron has instructed the government to develop a comprehensive plan to protect critical infrastructure and defense facilities from drone attacks and cyber strikes. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing France Télévisions. According to the outlet, in recent months Moscow's pressure on Paris has noticeably intensified: cyberattacks on military and government structures are being detected, as well as attempts to interfere in the upcoming presidential campaign using AI-fabricated video materials.

### Emergency meeting at the Élysée Palace

On September 18, 2026, an emergency high-level meeting was held in a new protected crisis room at the Élysée Palace. The government urgently convened all departmental prefects, who are to hold regional summits on security and defense next week. The sessions will be attended by heads of law enforcement agencies, military officials, representatives of the education system, business, and emergency response services. "I asked the government to prepare a plan to protect our critical infrastructure, as well as sensitive facilities of our defense industrial and technological base, from drones and cyberattacks," Macron stated, emphasizing the urgency of the task.

### List of potential targets and airfield readiness

According to a confidential internal memo obtained by France Télévisions, the list of potential attack targets includes power plants and power grids, railway infrastructure, telecommunications hubs, and drinking water distribution systems. Air Force General Patrick Duttart reported that major French airfields have already been brought to a state of readiness to repel drone attacks. At the same time, he noted that all sensitive facilities related to the country's defense could be at risk, requiring the protection perimeter to be extended far beyond military bases.

### Timeline adjustment: intelligence shifts the threat horizon

French intelligence services, according to France Télévisions, are preparing for a scenario of massive Russian attacks on European territory. Notably, the time horizon of this threat has been adjusted: if earlier internal documents referred to 2030, analysts now cite autumn 2027. This acceleration, according to experts, is linked to the growing pace of preparation of sabotage groups and the expansion of cyberinfrastructure aimed at penetrating European control systems.

### Hybrid war against Europe: the broader context

Moscow's actions in France are not an isolated incident. Russia is waging a large-scale hybrid campaign against European countries, which includes cyber operations, information influence, sabotage using so-called "one-time agents," and arson attacks on infrastructure facilities. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine examined in detail the mechanisms the Kremlin employs in EU countries and how European governments are building their response. France, as a key NATO member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is viewed in Moscow as a priority target for demonstrating the vulnerability of the European security architecture.

The coming week will be a stress test for the French crisis management system: the prefects' regional summits are to complete the formation of a unified response protocol at the departmental level, while the government is to present Macron with a draft of the national protection plan. The document is expected to include both technical measures (anti-drone systems, cyber defense) and organizational ones (interagency coordination, training of critical infrastructure personnel).

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [France prepares plan to protect against Russian drones and cyberattacks, - media](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/frantsiya-gotue-plan-zahistu-vid-rosiyskih-1789908498.html) - Подтверждает поручение Макрона, экстренную встречу 18 сентября, список целей и корректировку сроков разведки. Основной источник для фактической базы.
- [Russian hybrid threats: Macron warned presidential candidates of Russian interference and ...](https://zn.ua/europe/rossijskie-hibridnye-uhrozy-makron-predupredil-kandidatov-v-prezidenty-o-vmeshatelstve-rf-i-hotovit-plan-protivodejstvija-kremlju.html) - Подтверждает гибридный характер угрозы, вмешательство в президентскую кампанию и подготовку плана. Добавляет деталь о предупреждении кандидатов.
- [Macron ordered the development of a plan to protect France's critical infrastructure from hybrid attacks ...](https://nv.ua/world/geopolitics/gibridnye-ataki-rossii-franciya-usilivaet-zashchitu-kriticheskoy-infrastruktury-50642697.html) - Независимо подтверждает факт поручения и характер угрозы (гибридные атаки на критическую инфраструктуру).
- [Macron: if Putin calls, I will pick up the phone. What else the French president said in an RFI interview](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%84%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F/20230623-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82-%D1%8F-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B7%D1%8C%D0%BC%D1%83-%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BA%D1%83) - Интервью 2023 года. Использовано исключительно как фоновый контекст для оценки тональности отношений Париж—Москва. Не содержит фактов, относящихся к текущему событию.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly did Macron instruct the French government to do?
**A:** Macron instructed the government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive facilities of the defense industrial and technological base from drone attacks and cyberattacks.

### Q: Which facilities are named as potential targets?
**A:** According to an internal memo obtained by France Télévisions, the list includes power plants and power grids, railways, telecommunications systems, and drinking water distribution networks.

### Q: When does intelligence expect a massive attack?
**A:** French intelligence services have adjusted the time horizon: if earlier documents referred to 2030, analysts now cite autumn 2027.

### Q: When was the emergency meeting at the Élysée Palace held?
**A:** The emergency meeting took place on September 18, 2026, in a new protected crisis room at the Élysée Palace. Prefects, heads of law enforcement agencies, military officials, and business representatives were present.