Notorious Russian Hackers Behind 2017 Macron Leaks, France Says

PARIS — In a significant escalation of tensions between France and Russia, French authorities have publicly accused Moscow's most notorious hacking group of orchestrating cyberattacks on President Emmanuel Macron's 2017 election campaign. The revelation marks the first time France has directly linked Russia to the "Macron leaks," a high-profile affair that exposed thousands of documents from the candidate's campaign team.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement this week, attributing the attacks to Russia's intelligence service, the GRU. However, it was the infamous APT28 group, also known as Fancy Bear, that is believed to have carried out the cyberattacks. This group has previously been sanctioned by the EU for hacking the German Bundestag in 2015 and was tied to the notorious hacks of the U.S. Democratic National Committee in 2016.

The French ministry revealed that APT28 has been used to target or compromise a dozen French entities since 2021, with its primary objective being to put pressure on Ukraine's infrastructure. In addition, France's cybersecurity agency reported that various private sector actors, including those in the finance and aerospace sectors, were also targeted by the group.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently posted a message on X, stating that his country "observes, blocks and fights its adversaries." The statement came as part of a video about the "silent war" waged by Russia against France. It is rare for the French government to publicly name perpetrators of cyberattacks on its territory.

In recent weeks, Macron has significantly increased the rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin, with a bid to pressure ceasefire talks between the U.S and Russia. The French president has previously warned U.S. President Donald Trump about Putin's alleged intentions, calling him out for "lying" about his desire to peacefully end the war in Ukraine.

This move marks another escalation in the tensions between France and Russia, with Macron seeking to pile pressure on Putin through diplomatic means. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this revelation will impact international relations and cybersecurity efforts.