Sweden started sending out millions of leaflets on Monday, the 18th of November, advising people how to prepare for a possible war, and Finland launched a new website.
“The security situation is serious, and we all need to strengthen our resilience to different crises and ultimately war,” said Mikael Frisell, who heads the Swedish Civil Protection Emergency Agency (MSB), which sent out the leaflets.
Since Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, Stockholm has repeatedly called on Swedes to prepare both mentally and logistically for the possibility of armed conflict.
After the end of the Cold War, the country drastically cut defence spending as it focused its military efforts on international peacekeeping missions.
But after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, it reversed course. Since then, Stockholm has restored limited military conscription, significantly increased defence spending and reestablished a garrison on the Baltic Sea Island of Gotland.
It has also reinforced bomb shelters, drinking water supplies and transport infrastructure, appointed a civil protection minister and set up a Psychological Protection Agency to combat disinformation.
The 32-page booklet “In case of crisis or war”, which was launched on Monday, contains information on how to prepare for war, natural disasters and cyber or terror attacks.
This is an updated version of a leaflet that Sweden has issued five times since the Second World War and will be sent to 5.2 million households in the next two weeks.
The new version does not mention Russia, Ukraine or any other country.
Civil Protection Minister Karl Oskar Bolin caused a stir in January when he warned that “war could break out in Sweden”.
Many were also alarmed by the then Swedish army commander, Mikael Biden, who said a few days later that “Swedes must mentally prepare for war”.
Sweden has not been involved in war for more than two centuries.
The new brochure states: “The level of military threat is increasing. We must be prepared for the worst-case scenario – an armed attack on Sweden”.
Tips include stockpiling long-lasting food and water, storing cash and growing fruit and vegetables in gardens.
The previous 2018 version was the first time the leaflet had been sent out since 1961 at the height of the Cold War.
The MSB noted that the updated version placed greater emphasis on war preparations compared to the 2018 version.
The brochure is available in print in Swedish and English, and digital versions are available in several other languages – including Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian, Polish, Finnish and Finnish.
Meanwhile, the Finnish government launched a website at a separate event, which provides information on preparedness for different crises.
The two Nordic countries abandoned decades of military neutrality and joined the US-led NATO after Russia launched its re-invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Finland shares a 1 340 km border with Russia and Helsinki has maintained a high level of preparedness.
However, following Moscow’s re-invasion of Ukraine, Helsinki announced plans to build a 200-kilometre border fence with Russia.
The three-metre-high fence, lined with barbed wire, is expected to be completed by 2026.
Last year, the country closed eight border crossings with Russia following an influx of migrants that Helsinki claimed was a hybrid attack orchestrated by Moscow.