Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Finland has conducted Europe’s largest civil defense exercise since World War II, involving thousands of people in crisis simulations amid rising concerns over Russian military threats and suspected sabotage across Europe.
More than 2,000 people, including volunteers, students and military conscripts, took part in the two-day Shelter 2026 exercise, held earlier this week in the central Finnish city of Kuopio, Kyiv Post reported.
The drill centered on Luola, a vast underground sports complex built into rock that was converted into a civil defense shelter.
Participants rehearsed how authorities would respond if cyberattacks knocked out electricity and water supplies, alongside a scenario involving possible missile strikes from Russia.
The exercise also tested coordination between authorities, businesses, schools, volunteer groups and local residents during a major emergency.
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, joined NATO in 2023 following the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ending decades of military non-alignment.