Finland Holds Europe’s Largest Civil Defense Exercise Since World War II

KUOPIO: Finland has conducted Europe’s largest civil defense exercise since the end of World War II, bringing together more than 2,000 volunteers, students and military personnel to prepare for potential disruptions caused by cyberattacks, sabotage and military strikes.

The exercise, known as “Shelter 2026,” was held in the central Finnish city of Kuopio. The scenario envisaged disruptions to critical infrastructure, including electricity and water supplies, following cyberattacks, alongside the threat of missile strikes from neighboring Russia.

Participants practiced moving into underground shelters, including a facility carved into rock and equipped with doors designed to provide protection against nuclear and biological threats. The shelter can accommodate thousands of people and was temporarily converted into a facility where participants slept overnight on portable beds.

The exercise reflects Finland’s emphasis on combining military preparedness with civilian resilience. Organizers said the aim was to ensure that local authorities and ordinary citizens understand how to respond if the country faces a major emergency.

Finland has a border of more than 1,300 kilometers with Russia. The country joined NATO in 2024, together with Sweden, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Before joining the alliance, Finland had largely relied on its own defense capabilities and longstanding system of military conscription.

Retired Army Colonel Asko Muhonen, who organized the exercise, said Finland’s security depends not only on its armed forces but also on the readiness of citizens to take responsibility for national resilience.

The exercise also drew lessons from Ukraine, where civilians have frequently had only minutes to seek shelter from missile and drone attacks. Finnish organizers stressed that shelters must be accessible and capable of providing protection even when people cannot reach purpose-built facilities designed to withstand extreme attacks.

Concerns over cyberattacks and potential sabotage have also increased in Finland since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Juha Räsänen, chief executive of electricity company Savon Voima, said cyberattacks against the company’s network had increased significantly, while drones have been observed near power infrastructure.

Finnish authorities have simultaneously urged citizens to be prepared to manage independently for at least 72 hours in the event of prolonged power outages, contaminated drinking water or other disruptions.

The exercise comes amid growing European concerns over what Western officials describe as Russian hybrid activities, including cyberattacks, sabotage, drone operations and other forms of disruption below the threshold of conventional warfare. Russia has denied responsibility for such activities.

For Finland, the exercise underscores a broader national security strategy in which civilian preparedness is considered an essential component of deterrence and national defense.