France strongly condemns Russian actors and their intermediaries implicated in the Storm-1516 manoeuvres (6 May 2025)

VIGINUM is today publishing a report documenting a significant number of information operations by Russian actors using the attack group Storm-1516.

Since 2023, this cyber attack group has been used in 77 Russian information campaigns targeting France, Ukraine and all Western countries. The attack group created by Russia as part of its information war uses especially complex, sometimes high-profile distribution patterns, particularly by interfering in electoral ballots. This was the case in particular during the early general election in France in June 2024.

The Storm-1516 attack group is reportedly linked to a complex network of individuals and organizations acting from Russian Federation territory, some of whom are particularly close to the Russian Government, which suggests close links with the propaganda machine deployed by Russia.

In the face of the threat which this cyber attack group represents for French and European public debate online, France strongly condemns Russia’s destabilizing activities. This conduct is unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. No attempt at manipulation will dissuade France from supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression.

The social-media platforms affected by these operations have been informed and must shoulder their responsibility in the fight against this foreign digital interference, in the framework of implementing the European Union Digital Services Act.