Sweden and Finland are urging their citizens to prepare for the possibility of war amid escalating tensions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sweden has reissued an updated 32-page “In Case of Crisis or War” guide, marking the first revision since 2018. The pamphlet, distributed to 5.2 million households, outlines survival strategies, including stockpiling food, medicine, and essential supplies.
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, emphasized the seriousness of the current security situation, highlighting the need for resilience. Neighboring Finland has also launched an online crisis preparedness guide, revealing that only 58% of Finns are sufficiently equipped for emergencies.
These measures come as Sweden and Finland, historically neutral, join NATO in response to Russia’s aggression. Norway, already a NATO member, earlier this year distributed 2.2 million crisis manuals, advising citizens to prepare for at least a week of self-sufficiency in case of a national emergency.
The updated Swedish pamphlet reflects the nation’s commitment to defending its people while underscoring the growing challenges posed by Russia’s continued advances in Ukraine, where Moscow now controls roughly 20% of the territory as the conflict nears its third year.
