Kyiv. 1000 days have passed since the Russia-Ukraine war, but no solution is yet in sight. On the contrary, it seems that this war that started between two countries is now slowly taking Europe under its control. Two NATO countries, Finland and Sweden, which also share the Russian border, have asked their armies to be ready. Not only this, he has also told his people that war can start any time.
Indeed, Sweden on Monday began sending millions of leaflets to residents to prepare for a possible war and Finland launched a new website, while Ukraine fights a three-year-long Russian invasion. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Nordic neighbors have decided to abandon decades of military non-alignment policy and join the US-led defense alliance NATO.
“The security situation is serious and we need to strengthen our resilience to face various crises and ultimately war,” said Mikael Frisell, director of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), which sent out the brochure. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Stockholm has repeatedly urged Swedish citizens to be mentally and logistically prepared for the possibility of armed conflict.
Situation changed due to Russia’s occupation of Crimea
After the end of the Cold War, the country drastically cut its defense spending as it focused its military efforts on international peacekeeping missions. But the situation changed after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Since then, Stockholm has reintroduced limited mandatory military service, massively increased defense spending, and reopened a military base on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.
People were asked to be prepared
Subsequently, bomb shelters were strengthened, drinking water supplies and transportation infrastructure were improved, a civilian defense minister was appointed, and a psychological defense agency was established aimed at fighting disinformation. The 32-page brochure “If Crisis or War Comes,” which began distribution on November 18, contains information on how to prepare for war, natural disasters, and cyber or terrorist attacks.
The brochure, to be sent to 5.2 million homes over the next two weeks, is an updated edition of a booklet issued five times by Sweden since World War II. The names of Russia, Ukraine or other countries have not been taken in the new edition.
‘There may be war, save food and money’
In January, Civil Defense Minister Karl-Oskar Bohlin warned that “war could break out in Sweden.” Sweden’s then Army Chief Mikael Biden also said a few days later that “the people of Sweden have to be mentally prepared for war.” Sweden has not fought a war for the last two centuries. The new pamphlet says, “Military threat levels are increasing. “We have to be prepared for the worst case scenario – an armed attack on Sweden.” It suggests storing long-lasting food and water, carrying cash, and growing fruits and vegetables in gardens.
The previous edition in 2018 was sent for the first time since 1961, when the Cold War was at its peak. MSB said that in the updated edition, there has been more emphasis on war preparedness as compared to 2018. The brochure is available in print in both Swedish and English, and digital editions are also available in several other languages – including Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian, Polish, Somali and Finnish.
Finland closed its 8 border posts with Russia
Meanwhile, in a separate move, the Finnish government has launched a website collecting information on preparedness for various crises. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre (830 mi) border with Russia, and Helsinki has maintained a high level of preparedness. But after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Helsinki announced plans to build a 200-kilometre-long border fence with Russia.
This fence will be three meters (10 feet) high and will have barbed wire installed on top of it. The target is to complete it by 2026. Last year, the country closed eight of its border posts with Russia. Helsinki had claimed that the step was taken due to a hybrid attack by Moscow, which involved the arrival of large numbers of migrants into their country.
Tags: Russia, russia ukraine war, Vladimir Putin
FIRST PUBLISHED: November 20, 2024, 17:39 IST
