General Mandon calls on France to be prepared for the loss of children in the event of an armed conflict with Russia

General Fabien Mandon had already stated at the end of 2025 that the country should be ready to “accept the loss of its children” in the event of an armed conflict with Russia.

“The persistent threat of Russia on our continent, with an open war, remains my primary concern in terms of military readiness,” declared General Fabien Mandon on Thursday, April 9. He was questioned by members of the defense committee during a hearing focused on updating the military program to reinforce the defense budget by 2030. These statements reflect those he made at the end of 2025, when he said that France must be “ready for a shock in three, four years” in the face of Russia.

General Fabien Mandon also considered it necessary for the country to restore its “inner strength to accept hurting ourselves to protect who we are and be ready to “accept the loss of its children” in an increasingly tense international context. His statements were criticized by several opposition political leaders. He also believed that Russia could “be tempted to continue the war on our continent.”