Key facts
- French President Emmanuel Macron denied reports that the CIA warned France about potential Russian drone attacks.
- Macron stated Russia is multiplying hostile and criminal acts against European countries.
- France could face strikes similar to a failed attack in Leipzig, Macron said.
- Macron said Russia is showing "several signs" of preparing to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops.
- Macron claimed Russia waited for elections to pass before launching another mobilization wave.
- Macron called reports of Russia preparing to mobilize 300,000 soldiers "plausible."
French President Emmanuel Macron denied on September 24, 2026, that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had warned French services about a potential Russian drone strike across southern Europe. "I can deny it. The CIA did not inform French services," Macron said in an interview with French TV channels TF1 and France 2. He added that Russia is multiplying hostile and criminal acts against European countries, and France could face strikes similar to a failed attack in Leipzig.
Macron also stated that Russia is showing "several signs" of preparing for a new mobilization of approximately 300,000 people following recent elections. He claimed that Russia had waited for the elections to conclude before initiating another wave of mobilization. "And indeed, the plausible scenario that is frequently being discussed today is around 300,000 men," Macron said, calling the reports "plausible."
Ukraine's Presidential Office had previously warned in August that Russia could be preparing to call up 600,000 people over 2026 and 2027. The office stated in a briefing summary that Russia planned to mobilize 300,000 people in 2026 and another 300,000 in 2027. Macron suggested that Russia might conduct this mobilization without a public announcement. He indicated that the signal Russia is sending is a readiness to make greater sacrifices to seize all of Donbas.