What would happen if thousands of people had to take shelter underground during a war or major disaster?
Finland is putting that question to the test. DW’s Juri Rescheto joins residents, emergency services and volunteers inside a massive civil defense shelter in Kuopio during Shelter 2026, an exercise designed to find out whether an entire community could function underground during a crisis.
Finland has roughly 50,000 civil defense shelters, enough space to protect most of its population. Its preparedness culture has deep historical roots, but Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has given the issue new urgency.
Juri spends the night underground as officials test everything from drinking water and sleeping arrangements to heat, noise and the psychological effects of confinement.
We then speak to retired Colonel and comprehensive security expert Asko Muhonen about how effective Finland’s shelters would be in a real conflict, the threat from neighboring Russia and what other European countries can learn from Finland’s approach to civil defense.
0:00 Finland conducts huge civil defense drill
02:18 Finland’s culture of preparedness shaped by war with Soviet Union
05:45 The concept of “comprehensive security”
08:30 Impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on Finland’s culture of preparedness
09:25 The importance of public morale and cohesion in a war situation
10:21 The different threat perceptions across Europe
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