By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
STOCKHOLM/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – With Ukraine firing Western missiles deep into Russia and Moscow not ruling out using nuclear weapons in response, millions of Europeans are urged to prepare for an escalation of the armed conflict.
Perhaps nowhere is that as clear as in Scandinavia, where millions of Swedes will start receiving copies of a pamphlet advising the population how to cope in the event of war or another unexpected crisis.
“In case of crisis or war” has been updated from six years ago because of what the government in Stockholm calls “the worsening security situation,” which means Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Neighboring Finland has also just published its fresh advice online on “preparing for incidents and crises.”
Norwegians also recently received a pamphlet urging them to be prepared to manage on their own for a week in extreme weather, war, and other threats.
During the summer, Denmark’s emergency management agency said it was emailing Danish adults about the water, food, and medicine they would need to survive a three-day crisis.
In a detailed section on military conflict, the Finnish digital brochure explains how the government and president would respond in an armed attack, stressing that Finland’s authorities are “well prepared for self-defense.”
JOINING NATO
Sweden joined the NATO military alliance only this year, deciding, like Finland, to apply after Moscow expanded its war in 2022. Norway was a founding member of NATO.
Unlike Sweden and Norway, the Helsinki government has decided not to print a copy for every home as it “would cost millions,” and officials said a digital version could be updated more easily.
“We have sent out 2.2 million paper copies, one for each household in Norway,” said Tore Kamfjord, who is responsible for the campaign of self-preparedness at the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB).
In other Western countries, people are also encouraged to stock up on food and water for at least three or four days and on batteries for lights, radios, and mobile phones.
“We certainly live in strange times,” said a bartender at an Irish Becketts pub in Budapest, Hungary, talking to Worthy News.“People are even stocking up on food and water.”
Yet, with war just hundreds of kilometers (miles) away, people could still be seen drinking Guinness beer from Ireland.
If it’s up to Hungary’s government, Budapest remains peaceful as it does not want other European nations to become involved in the Ukraine-Russia war.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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