Sweden and Finland are preparing their residents for a possible war linked to the conflict in Ukraine

The two countries abandoned decades of military non-alignment and entered NATO after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Location of fallout shelters, choice of food, reliable sources of information… Sweden began, on Monday, November 18, to send five million brochures to its inhabitants, to prepare them for a potential conflict, at a time when Ukraine is struggling against Russian troops. Since the start of this armed conflict, the Scandinavian country has urged its population to come to terms, both mentally and logistically, with this possibility, given the proximity of Russia. Neighboring Finland has meanwhile created a website with similar preparation advice.

Both countries have abandoned decades of military non-alignment. They entered NATO in March 2023 (Finland) and March 2024 (Sweden), following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Swedish libretto, which bears the name“If the crisis or the war comes” (“In case of crisis or war”), written by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, contains practical recommendations for dealing with crises such as war, natural disasters and cyberattacks. The 32-page document describes, using simple illustrations, the threats facing Sweden and gives advice such as stockpiling food and water. Including this updated version, it has been sent five times since World War II.

The booklet does not explicitly mention Ukraine or Russia but emphasizes that the military threat to Sweden has increased. “We must prepare for the worst, an armed attack”it says there.

These calls sparked intense debates within Swedish society, unaccustomed to the realities of war. While the country regularly sends troops for peacekeeping operations, it has not been involved in armed conflict since the Napoleonic Wars at the start of the 19th century.