Sweden, Finland Urge Residents to Prepare for War Amid Escalating Tensions with Russia: ‘Situation is Serious’

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues into its third year, Sweden and Finland have begun urging their residents to prepare for the possibility of war.

The escalating conflict has prompted both nations to issue public warnings, advising citizens on preparing for a potential national crisis.

Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, shows off the new manual for civilians to be prepared for war or crisis. TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

On Monday, Stockholm released the latest version of its crisis preparation pamphlet, “In Case of Crisis or War,” which has not been updated since 2018. The revised document, now 32 pages long—double the length of the previous edition—focuses on war preparedness in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Sweden, a NATO member, has warned of the worsening situation in Ukraine. AP

Mikael Frisell, director of Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency, emphasised the seriousness of the situation, stating, “The security situation is serious, and we all need to strengthen our resilience to face various crises and ultimately war.”

An estimated 5.2 million copies of the pamphlet will be distributed to Swedish households in the next two weeks. The pamphlet, which will also be available in multiple languages online, instructs citizens on how to stockpile essential supplies like food, baby formula, medicine, and hygiene products to prepare for a potential crisis.

The new Swedish pamphlet vows the nation’s forces to defend Swedes from a hostile country. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)

Finland, Sweden’s neighbouring country, has also issued its crisis preparation brochure. The Finnish government has made the pamphlet available online, urging its citizens to ensure they are prepared for war. According to a government survey in September, only 58% of Finnish households have sufficient emergency supplies on hand.

These preparations come after Norway distributed 2.2 million pamphlets earlier this year, advising its citizens to manage independently for a week during a national crisis, including war. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection confirmed the distribution, with one copy sent to each household in the country.

The Swedish pamphlet is now double in length and focuses on war and combat prep. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)

Both Sweden and Finland’s calls for preparedness follow their decision to join NATO, a historic move after years of neutrality, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two countries expressed concerns over the Kremlin’s territorial ambitions in Eastern Europe. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and Kyiv has struggled to prevent Moscow’s steady advances.

As the war rages on, these Scandinavian nations are taking steps to ensure their citizens are ready for a potential escalation, reflecting growing fears of further regional instability.