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Signal
Submitted
Jul 13, 2026, 22:33 UTC
France attributes ongoing malicious cyber espionage targeting its government and defense sectors to the Russian FSB’s 16th Centre, highlighting a series of attacks since 2017 linked to Russian state actors and coordinated EU sanctions on 13 July 2026.
France publicly attributes persistent malicious cyber activities targeting French territory and strategic interests to the 16th Centre of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), specifically Unit 61240. These cyberattacks have targeted the Ministry for the Armed Forces' email accounts since 2017, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs network at the French Embassy in Moscow in 2018, a judicial sector computer server in 2019, and a research institute linked to the French defence industry in February 2025, resulting in significant data exfiltration. The European Union has also attributed similar cyberattacks targeting multiple Member States to the same FSB center, including sabotage attempts against Poland's water treatment and energy sectors. Russia's intensified malicious cyber campaign forms part of broader hybrid threats including information manipulation, democratic interference, and airspace violations within the context of its war against Ukraine. The EU imposed sanctions on 13 July 2026 against individuals and entities involved in these malicious cyber activities, including groups linked to destabilizing the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. France remains committed to international law and the UN normative framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace while resolutely preparing to counter destabilizing activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Confidence: High
The report details persistent and state-attributed cyber espionage attacks by a specific state security service unit, affecting critical government and defense networks over multiple years, corroborated by EU-wide attributions and sanctions. The attribution to an official FSB unit and the targeting of sensitive national infrastructure and institutions clearly mark hostile state-sponsored cyber aggression.
Source URL
https://uk.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/statement-attribution-russia-malicious-cyber-activities-targeting-france-espionage-purposes
Source reliability
B
Info credibility
6
Event time
Jul 13, 2026, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
unknown
Location
French territory and French Embassy in Moscow
Primary actor
16th Centre of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Unit 61240
Country
France
Countries
France
Tags
Russia, FSB, 16th Centre, Unit 61240, TURLA, offensive cyber operations, cyberattacks, France, sanctions, hybrid warfare, 2024 Paris Olympics, 2027 French elections, defense sector, intelligence
Signal
Submitted
Jul 13, 2026, 22:33 UTC
France attributes ongoing malicious cyber espionage targeting its government and defense sectors to the Russian FSB’s 16th Centre, highlighting a series of attacks since 2017 linked to Russian state actors and coordinated EU sanctions on 13 July 2026.
France publicly attributes persistent malicious cyber activities targeting French territory and strategic interests to the 16th Centre of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), specifically Unit 61240. These cyberattacks have targeted the Ministry for the Armed Forces' email accounts since 2017, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs network at the French Embassy in Moscow in 2018, a judicial sector computer server in 2019, and a research institute linked to the French defence industry in February 2025, resulting in significant data exfiltration. The European Union has also attributed similar cyberattacks targeting multiple Member States to the same FSB center, including sabotage attempts against Poland's water treatment and energy sectors. Russia's intensified malicious cyber campaign forms part of broader hybrid threats including information manipulation, democratic interference, and airspace violations within the context of its war against Ukraine. The EU imposed sanctions on 13 July 2026 against individuals and entities involved in these malicious cyber activities, including groups linked to destabilizing the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. France remains committed to international law and the UN normative framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace while resolutely preparing to counter destabilizing activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Confidence: High
The report details persistent and state-attributed cyber espionage attacks by a specific state security service unit, affecting critical government and defense networks over multiple years, corroborated by EU-wide attributions and sanctions. The attribution to an official FSB unit and the targeting of sensitive national infrastructure and institutions clearly mark hostile state-sponsored cyber aggression.
Source URL
https://uk.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/statement-attribution-russia-malicious-cyber-activities-targeting-france-espionage-purposes
Source reliability
B
Info credibility
6
Event time
Jul 13, 2026, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
unknown
Location
French territory and French Embassy in Moscow
Primary actor
16th Centre of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Unit 61240
Country
France
Countries
France
Tags
Russia, FSB, 16th Centre, Unit 61240, TURLA, offensive cyber operations, cyberattacks, France, sanctions, hybrid warfare, 2024 Paris Olympics, 2027 French elections, defense sector, intelligence