Secret Russian Military Intelligence Unit Implicated in Major Hacks: Paris

Paris accuses Russia’s Fancy Bear group of conducting cyberattacks on entities that are ‘active participants in French life.’

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting at the Chateau de Versailles near Paris, France, May 29, 2017. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Reuters

French authorities said a secret unit from Russia’s military intelligence service is implicated in a series of hacking operations that have taken place since 2021.

“The Russian military intelligence service (GRU) has been deploying a cyber-offensive modus operandi called APT28 against France for several years. It has targeted around 10 French entities since 2021,” Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister, wrote on social media platform X on April 30.