Sweden has unveiled plans for a £7.7 million refurbishment of its civil defence bunkers, following warnings to its citizens to brace themselves for potential warfare in light of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The Scandinavian nation boasts an impressive 64,000 shelters scattered across the country, providing space for approximately seven million individuals – over two-thirds of the Swedish population.
However, since aligning itself with NATO in March 2024, Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has ramped up inspections of these shelters, some of which can house thousands of people simultaneously. These bunkers are engineered to shield occupants from shockwaves and bomb fragments, the blast and heatwaves from a nuclear weapon, radioactive fallout, gas from chemical weapons and biological weapons. On Monday, the MSB announced the commencement of a massive project to modernise the nuclear shelters – a task it anticipates will span two-to-three years – including efforts to upgrade filters that safeguard against chemical and radiological weapons.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that while Sweden was “not at war… there is not peace either”.
The government is also investing in enhancing the emergency services’ ability to operate during conflicts, bolstering cybersecurity and restocking medicine supplies.
After the Cold War ended, Sweden significantly reduced military spending. However, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, it began to increase its military budget once again.
In 2015, it reactivated its “total defence” strategy, which combines both military and civil defence activities.
The efforts to modernise the military and enhance civil preparedness for war escalated dramatically after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Among other measures, the Swedish government has established a new role of minister for civil defence to work alongside the armed forces minister. This move is designed to mobilise civilians as well as the military in times of crisis.
In November, the MSB distributed five million pamphlets to residents, urging them to prepare for the possibility of war.
The booklet, titled “If Crisis or War Comes”, provided information on how to prepare for emergencies such as war, natural disasters, cyber attacks and terrorism.
The introduction to the booklet states: “An insecure world requires preparedness. The military threat to Sweden has increased and we must prepare for the worst – an armed attack.”
