French police are interested in the Ukrainian experience in countering Russia’s hybrid threats and will learn from their Ukrainian colleagues, the National Police of Ukraine reports.
The statement on the National Police website on Wednesday notes that during a working meeting of Ukrainian and French police delegations, they discussed strengthening cooperation in the interests of European security, countering organized crime and Russia’s hybrid threats, and the importance of sharing Ukraine’s unique experience.
According to Maksym Tsuts’kyridze, Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine – Head of the Main Investigative Department, there are already practical results of cooperation with French colleagues – from the work of criminologists in de-occupied territories to joint international operations within JITs (Joint Investigation Teams) and countering organized criminal groups, some of which are currently operating in EU territory.
Andrii Niebitov, Deputy Head of the National Police – Head of the Criminal Police, emphasized the rise of transnational crime in wartime conditions and the need to strengthen information exchange between law enforcement agencies of Ukraine and EU countries.
“The key task is to strengthen coordination and information exchange regarding criminal networks. We are open to full cooperation through SIENA channels (Secure Information Exchange Network Application – Europol’s secure information exchange channel). At the same time, we see how Telegram is used for the sale of weapons, drugs, child exploitation, and even recruitment for sabotage – this is a separate challenge that requires a joint rapid response,” he emphasized.
The National Police notes that Ukrainian and French police paid special attention to new challenges related to hybrid threats, including the use of organized criminal groups for sabotage and the use of digital platforms for criminal purposes.
“The French side emphasized interest in studying the Ukrainian experience in countering such threats,” the statement says.
“We came to learn. The Ukrainian experience shows that hybrid threats are closely linked to organized crime, and the police must be ready to detect, investigate, and prevent them,” the National Police quotes Jose-Manuel Montoul, Head of the French Gendarmerie’s Organized Crime Counteraction Unit.
In turn, Jean-Marc Chambon, Law Enforcement Attaché at the Embassy of France in Ukraine, noted:
“We understand that these incidents cannot be seen only as isolated terrorist acts – their roots are connected to organized crime. That is why it is important for us to adopt the Ukrainian experience and prepare the system for such challenges.”
He added that these challenges already require a change in approaches in Europe.
