# Macron sounds alarm on Russian hybrid attacks

> France's president orders urgent defences against Russian drones and cyber-attacks as UK opposition demands the same response.
- Title: Macron sounds alarm on Russian hybrid attacks · the Guardian
- Summary: France's president orders urgent defences against Russian drones and cyber-attacks as UK opposition demands the same response. Macron is treating Russian…
- Keywords: emmanuel macron, france, russia, hybrid attacks, critical infrastructure, cyber-attacks, drones, ukraine, uk government, nigel farage, kemi badenoch, nato
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/sep/18/andy-burnham-ireland-john-healey-eu-made-in-europe-plan-uk-politics-latest-updates-news
- Published: 2026-09-18T15:15:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: emmanuel macron, france, russia, hybrid attacks, critical infrastructure, cyber-attacks, drones, ukraine, uk government, nigel farage, kemi badenoch, nato
## Macron warns of Russian hybrid threat
France's president says Russian hybrid attacks on Europe are intensifying and has ordered the government to protect critical infrastructure and defence sites from drone and cyber-attacks.

> The Russian hybrid threat against Europeans and against France has intensified
## France vows to support Ukraine despite threats
Macron says France will continue backing Ukraine despite Russian pressure, and promises that shadow attacks will not go unanswered.

> This will not go unanswered
## Farage questions UK's response readiness
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says the government should take Russian drone threats as seriously as France does and brief opposition leaders on security risks.

> It's high time the government started taking this threat seriously
## Badenoch warns of NATO attack risk by 2030
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says Macron and Polish PM Tusk are acting with urgency the UK government lacks, citing intelligence that a NATO attack could come by 2030.

> Its own intelligence assessment says an attack on NATO could come by 2030
## NATO chief calls for UK defence strategy
The NATO Secretary General visited Britain demanding a clear defence plan, but the government has not yet outlined its intentions despite repeated Russian incursions.
## Key takeaway

Macron is treating Russian hybrid threats as an immediate security crisis requiring coordinated government action, while UK opposition leaders say Britain should follow suit.