France to summon Russia's ambassador over "sabotage and espionage in a dozen European countries"

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Updated on: July 13, 2026 / 8:00 AM EDT

/ CBS News

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France's foreign minister said Monday that Russia's ambassador in Paris would be summoned over "a vast cyber campaign" across Europe. "We will also impose sanctions on nine individuals and four entities responsible for this cyber campaign, which was orchestrated by the FSB," Russia's primary national intelligence and security service, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, said in an interview with BFMTV/RMC.He made the announcement as the European Union and United Kingdom announced similar sanctions.The Russian attacks, which allegedly targeted companies, government ministries and service operators, were attempts at "sabotage and espionage in a dozen European countries," Barrot said.The goal was either "capturing information or sabotaging operations, for example rail infrastructure, as was the case in Poland," he said. Poland's top diplomat accused Russia of an "act of state terror" in November last year after two Ukrainian nationals allegedly working closely with Russian secret services were accused of blowing up a railway line in the country.