French President Emmanuel Macron declared Thursday that Russia has stepped up hybrid attacks against France and Europe in recent weeks, vowing the campaign would not go without a response. Speaking at a news conference at the Elysee Palace following meetings with party leaders on security matters, Macron announced he had ordered a plan to safeguard critical infrastructure and defense industry sites against the escalating threat.

Macron cited a Russian-blamed drone attack on Leipzig airport in Germany last month and warned that Moscow's intent is to intimidate European nations and undermine their support for Ukraine. 'The result will be the exact opposite,' Macron said. 'We are not intimidated because we know that our security today and tomorrow is at stake in Ukraine.'

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk added to the alarm on Thursday, telling Polish lawmakers that Russian plans include drone and missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, with Moscow prepared to claim any such strikes were accidental in order to divide NATO. The warnings come after a Russian drone struck a passenger train near the Ukraine-Poland border last Sunday, shortly after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior European security officials had traveled along the same rail line. Ukraine reported all passengers were evacuated minutes before the strike hit the train's engine near Yahodyn.

Hybrid warfare encompasses non-military methods such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns, often carried out through proxies. Russia has consistently denied involvement in such operations despite mounting evidence. A series of suspicious fires at defense facilities across Europe, from Italy to Estonia, has prompted several affected nations to publicly blame Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained that Russia has no plans to attack Europe, but Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Thursday that any European military intervention in Ukraine would constitute a declaration of war and trigger a swift response. Russia also reiterated Friday that British military facilities in Ukraine used to strike Russian territory would be considered legitimate targets, reserving the right to take counter-measures.