Paris called in the Russian chargé to condemn FSB-linked cyber operations and announced targeted sanctions, signaling a coordinated European response to recent espionage campaigns.
As reported by the online media Ukrinform .
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France on Friday, July 17, summoned the interim chargé d’affaires at the Russian Federation’s embassy over harmful cyber activity by Russia on French soil.
This was stated in a statement by the spokesperson for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
“The purpose of this summons was to most firmly condemn the harmful cyber activity that Russia is carrying out in France, in particular the operations carried out by the 16th FSB Center”
– said the French foreign ministry
The 16th FSB Center is a unit of the Russian security service, which French authorities link to the Turla group’s cyber-espionage operations, notably against government institutions and critical infrastructure in France.
The Foreign Ministry stressed that this activity targets not only France but also many of its European partners.
The Russian diplomat was also informed that France, together with its partners, will continue to use all available means to counter destabilizing operations.
“Such actions are unacceptable and beneath the dignity of a state that is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council”
– the French foreign ministry
According to French diplomats, in the coming days France will summon the Russian ambassador to Paris and impose sanctions on nine individuals and four entities responsible for the large-scale cyber incident orchestrated by the Russian FSB against ten European countries.
Official measures confirm the steps mentioned and emphasize the tension in the cybersecurity field between France and Russia, as well as possible further actions by French partners.
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