Finland is holding Europe's largest civil defense exercise since World War II. The exercise simulates Russian attack scenarios, radiation situations and involves thousands of people in bunkers across the country.
The Finnish government decided to organize this large-scale exercise after decades of military non-alignment. Finland joined NATO following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, thus strengthening its integration into the Western defense structure.
The exercise includes simulation of air attacks and emergency situations that force the population to seek underground shelter. The Finnish authorities are taking advantage of the bunker infrastructure built during the Cold War, which is still operational.
This event marks a significant shift in Finnish defense policy, which for decades maintained a posture of non-alignment with military blocs. The decision to join NATO and to hold large-scale civil defense exercises reflects the new security concerns of the country in light of the current geopolitical context in Europe.
