Macron Warns Russian Drones Could Target Sites in France

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russian drones could target sites within France, as he described an intensifying pattern of hostile activity by Moscow against European countries.

Macron said it was plausible that Russia could mobilize around 300,000 people, a scenario he described in the context of what he characterized as Moscow's broader campaign of pressure against Europe. He said Russia views the continent as Ukraine's “strategic rear,” a framing he argued explains an increase in hostile actions directed at European states.

The remarks add to a series of warnings from European leaders in recent months about the risk of Russian drone incursions and other forms of hybrid pressure extending beyond Ukraine's borders. Several European countries have reported drone sightings and airspace incidents that officials have linked, directly or indirectly, to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Macron's comments underscore continued concern in Paris and other European capitals about the potential for the conflict to spill over in new ways, even as Ukraine remains the primary battleground. European governments have in recent months moved to bolster air defense and drone-detection capabilities amid these concerns.

The French president did not detail specific intelligence behind his warning about potential drone activity on French soil, but framed it as part of a broader assessment of Russia's posture toward Europe as the war in Ukraine continues.