Trial begins in Paris for Bulgarian suspects accused of vandalizing the Holocaust memorial with red handprints in a suspected Russian hybrid warfare operation to destabilize France through inflaming Jewish-Muslim tensions and undermining support for Ukraine.

In Paris, a criminal trial has commenced concerning a Russian-backed disinformation and destabilization campaign aimed at France. The operation, reportedly orchestrated by a Kremlin-linked group, involved provocative acts such as painting red handprints—symbolizing blood—on war memorials and displaying pig heads to intimidate and sow discord. These acts occurred alongside amplified disinformation efforts targeting French society and political discourse, notably around the time of the 2017 presidential election. The trial addresses charges against suspects accused of orchestrating and supporting these hybrid warfare tactics designed to undermine French democratic institutions and exacerbate societal tensions. The case illustrates the broader Kremlin strategy to destabilize Western democracies through covert influence operations and symbolic violence. French officials see this trial as a critical step in countering ongoing multifaceted Russian hostile influence attempts.