France’s foreign ministry has accused Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency of carrying out cyber attacks on several entities, including ministries, defense firms and think tanks, since 2021.
The accusations were levelled against GRU unit APT28.
The APT28 is based in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, and according to officials, though not the first by a Western power, it is the first time Paris has blamed the Russian state on the basis of its own intelligence.
In a statement, the ministry said APT28’s attacks on France go as far back as 2015, when the station TV5 Monde was taken off air in a hack claimed by purported Islamic State militants.
France claimed that APT28 had been behind the attack, and another in the 2017 presidential election when emails linked to the party and campaign of the eventual winner, Emmanuel Macron, were leaked and mixed with disinformation.
“These destabilizing activities are unacceptable and unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council,”; the foreign ministry said.
“Alongside its partners, France is determined to use all means at its disposal to anticipate, deter and respond to Russia’s malicious behavior in cyberspace.”;
