Finland conducts Europe's largest post-WWII civil defence drill amid Russian threat

In Kuopio, Finland, over 2,000 participants—including conscripts in hazmat gear, volunteers and university students—practised converting a cavernous shelter and a sports hall into a safe haven for thousands of civilians. The scenario simulated cyber-induced outages of power and water and the possibility of Russian missile attacks, prompting drills on radiation detection and 72-hour self-sufficiency. Retired Army Colonel Asko Muhonen stressed that conscription and a civic defence mindset are central to Finland’s security strategy.

Ukrainian student Dmytro Untila recalled the lack of shelter options during the 2022 Odesa attacks, underscoring the importance of easily reachable refuges. Energy provider Savon Voima’s CEO Juha Räsänen warned of increased cyber threats and mysterious stickers on vulnerable grid components, while the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service found no immediate danger from recent drone sightings or GPS jamming.