How Russia has been hacking French ministries since 2021

Published on April 29, 2025 at 3:02 p.m. , updated on April 29, 2025 at 4:41 p.m.

Russian-led hackers were able to penetrate French systems by tricking officials with fake emails. Behind these operations was the Fancy Bear group (pictured here on a computer in the Bundestag, the German parliament, in 2018). — Russian-led hackers were able to break into French systems by tricking officials with fake emails. Behind these operations was the Fancy Bear group (pictured here on a computer in the Bundestag, the German parliament, in 2018). SEAN GALLUP / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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Decryption Even before the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, a group of hackers close to the Kremlin compromised several ministries as well as the defense industrial and technological base.

It would be naive to think that Russia's war is limited to Ukraine's borders. It extends as far as France, particularly on the cyber front. This was revealed on Tuesday, April 29, by investigations by the Cyber Crisis Coordination Center (C4), which brings together the French National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI), the Cyber Defense Command (COMCyber), the French Armaments Directorate (DGA), the French External Security Directorate (DGSE), and the French Internal Security Directorate (DGSI).

Specifically, since 2021, hackers have breached numerous French entities. These include the Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITD), which brings together companies contributing to the design and production of equipment for the armed forces, and several ministries. They have also targeted, but not compromised, various entities in the aerospace and financial sectors.

According to information transmitted to “Nouvel Obs”, we…

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